AFTER INJECTING (2-BROMOETHYL)BENZENE IN RATS ONLY N-ACETYL-S-2-PHENYLETHYLCYSTEINE & N-ACETYL-S-(2-PHENYL-2-HYDROXYETHYL)CYSTEINE WERE FOUND IN URINE. INTERMEDIATE FORMATION OF STYRENE OR STYRENE OXIDE DOES NOT OCCUR.
THE CHIEF SULFUR CONTAINING URINARY METABOLITE OF PHENETHYL BROMIDE IN RAT & RABBIT WAS CHROMATOGRAPHICALLY IDENTIFIED AS N-ACETYL-S-BETA-HYDROXYPHENETHYL-L-CYSTEINE (HYDROXYPHENETHYLMERCAPTURIC ACID) & N-ACETYL-S-PHENETHYL-L-CYSTEINE (PHENETHYLMERCAPTURIC ACID). AMT OF PHENETHYLMERCAPTURIC ACID & HYDROXYPHENETHYLMERCAPTURIC ACID EXCRETED IN URINE OF RABBITS & RATS DOSED BY STOMACH TUBE WERE 11.8 & 6.1, 14.2 & 1.9 OF DOSE RESPECTIVELY. RAT LIVER SLICES CONVERTED PHENETHYLCYSTEINE & PHENETHYLMERCAPTURIC ACID INTO N-ACETYL-S-BETA-HYDROXYPHENETHYL-L-CYSTEINE.
2-Bromoethylbenzene (CAS # 103-62-9) was evaluated for acute oral toxicity. The test substance was administered once orally, by gavage to groups of male and female fasted albino rats. Dosage and mortality data are as follows: 521 mg/kg (0/5 M, 0/5 F); 750 mg/kg (2/5 M, 2/5 F); and 1080 mg/kg (5/5 M, 4/5 F). All deaths occurred within 7 days of dosing. The combined LD50 value was determined to be 811 mg/kg. At 521 mg/kg and above, treatment-related toxicity included hypoactivity and salivation; at 750 mg/kg and above, ataxia, clear ocular discharge and labored breathing were seen. There also was a low incidence of urogenital staining, abnormal defecation, dry brown staining around nose, hypothermia, dried red material around the eye(s), prostration and rales. There were no treatment-related changes in body weights. Necropsy of rats that died revealed external matting, dark red or reddened adrenal glands, stomach abnormalities, hemorrhagic thymus glands, and intestinal abnormalities.