Mechanism of decomposition of N-hydroxyacetaminophen, a postulated toxic metabolite of acetaminophen

MW Gemborys, GH Mudge…

Index: Gemborys, Mark W.; Mudge, Gilbert H. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1980 , vol. 23, # 3 p. 304 - 308

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Citation Number: 23

Abstract

The decomposition of N-hydroxyacetaminophen (N-acetyl-N-hydroxy-p-aminophenol, 2), a postulated toxic metabolite of acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, 1) in aqueous solution is quantitatively accounted for by the appearance of equimolar amounts of p- nitrosophenol and acetaminophen. The rate of decomposition depends on initial concentration and varies with pH. Antioxidants decrease the rate of decomposition and ...