The metabolism of phenethyl bromide, styrene and styrene oxide in the rabbit and rat.

1. The chief sulphur-containing metabolite of styrene and sytrene oxide in the rabbit and rat is chromatographically identical with N-acetyl-S-(beta-hydroxyphenethyl)-l-cysteine and this compound is also formed, together with N-acetyl-S-phenethyl-l-cysteine, as a metabolite of phenethyl bromide. 2. The amounts of the phenethylmercapturic acid and its hydroxy derivative excreted in the urine of animals dosed with phenethyl bromide, styrene, styrene oxide, phenyl glycol, S-phenylethylcysteine and phenethylmercapturic acid have been determined. 3. Liver slices convert phenethylcysteine and phenethylmercapturic acid into N-acetyl-S-(beta-hydroxyphenethyl)-l-cysteine. 4. Methods for the determination by gas-liquid chromatography of mandelic acid and hippuric acid, which are metabolites of some of the compounds studied, are described.