High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Separation of 6-Acetoxybenzo(A)pyrene from In Vitro Incubation of 6-Nitrobenzo(A)pyrene

Abstract

We carried out studies of the microsomal metabolism of 6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene (NBaP) to understand why the compound is a marginal carcinogen. Microsomal incubation products were separated by reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. A chromatographic peak with a retention time of 24.8 mins was isolated and examined by ultraviolet, mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The product was characterized as 6-acetoxy-benzo(a)pyrene. The source of the acetylating agent could be cytosolic.