Metabolism of 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde in rat. III. Identification and determination of 5-methyl-2-furylmethylketone.

1. Continuous extraction, column chromatography and t.l.c. were employed to isolate a minor metabolite of 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde from rat urine. 2. The metabolite was identified by mass spectrometry and independent synthesis as 5-methyl-2-furylmethylketone. 3. A method for quantitative determination of the metabolite in urine was devised. About 7% of the parent compound was metabolized to 5-methyl-2-furylmethylketone.