The metabolism of n-nonane in male Fischer 344 rats

The urinary metabolites of n-nonane in male Fischer 344 rats, after administering the hydrocarbon by gavage, included γ-valerolactone, δ-hexanolactone, 2,5-hexanedione, δ-heptanolactone, 1-heptanol, 2-nonanol, 3-nonanol, 4-nonanol, 4-nonanone and 5-methyl-2-(3-oxobutyl)furan. Metabolism strongly favored the formation of monoalcohols and lactones, which are the products of appropriately substituted hydroxy carboxylic acids. The metabolites were identified using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) permitted the detection of the dicarboxylic acids malonic acid and glutaric acid in the n-nonane dosed rat urines.