Characterisation of putative pentose-containing conjugates as minor metabolites of 4-bromoaniline present in the urine of rats following intraperitoneal administration.

The metabolic fate of 4-bromoaniline (4-BrA) was investigated following intraperitoneal administration to the rat at 50 mg kg(-1), using high-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/TOF-MS/MS). Up to five metabolites were detected in urine that correspond to isomeric pentose conjugates (possibly ribosides) of a hydroxysulphate of 4-BrA. This identification is supported by further studies where the water used in the reversed-phase solvent system was replaced with deuterated water in order to confirm that the number of exchangeable protons present in the metabolites was consistent with the proposed structures.