The Enzymatic N-Hydroxylation of an Imine

Rat and rabbit hepatic microsomal fractions catalyze the N-hydroxylation of 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone imine to 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone oxime.Characterization studies indicate that the reaction is a typical cytochrome P-450 dependent microsomal oxygenation.The oxygen atom which is introduced in the reaction was shown to derive from molecular oxygen.It is proposed that the oxime formation which has been previously observed during the microsomal oxidation of primary amines occurs by the N-hydroxylation of an intermediate imine.The oxime of 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone was found to be a urinary metabolite of 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone imine in the intact rat.