Metabolism in the rat of potassium nonan-5-sulphate, a symmetrical anionic surfactant

1. The metabolism of potassium nonan-5-[35S]sulphate, a symmetrical secondary alkylsulphate ester, was investigated in the rat. Oral administration of the radiolabelled ester was followed by the elimination of the majority of radioactivity in the urine.2. Potassium nonan-5-[35S]sulphate is degraded in vivo to produce at least three radiolabelled sulphate esters.3. The same metabolites were produced by isolated rat livers perfused with potassium nonan-5-[35S]sulphate.4. The three radioactive metabolites were identified by combined g.l.c.-mass spectroscopy as the unchanged parent ester, nonan-1-ol-5-sulphate and nonanoate-5 sulphate.5. The nature of the latter two metabolites indicates that potassium nonan-5-sulphate is metabolized by ω-oxidation only and, moreover, the alkylsulphate ester is metabolized only at one end of the molecule.