Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of 3,4-dichlorophenyl-propenoyl-sec.-butylamine in rats by high performance liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry

The pharmacokinetics (PK) and metabolism of 3,4-dichlorophenyl-propenoyl-sec.-butylamine (3,4-DCPB), a novel antiepileptic drug, were investigated after its oral administration to rats (100 mg/kg) by HPLC. The absorption and elimination of 3,4-DCPB were rapid. 3,4-DCPB was found to undergo extensive metabolism as the major route of elimination. Structures of the metabolites present in rat plasma were identified with liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS). It was concluded that 3,4-DCPB was involved in the multiple metabolic pathways (hydrolysis, dealkylation and oxidation) and the hydrolysis product, 3,4-dichloro-cinnamic acid (M1) appeared to be the major metabolite.