 |
| Identity |
| 3D Structure |
| Physicochemical data |
| Environmental fate |
| Mammal toxicology |
| Ecotoxicology |
| Metabolism |
| Safety classifications |
| Evaluation |
Diethyl ether [60-29-7] |
| Mammals metabolize diethyl ether (1) with participation of cytochrome P450 to ethanol (2) and acetaldehyde (3). Ethanol (2) is also oxidized to acetaldehyde (3) by alcohol dehydrogenase. Acetaldehyde (3) can easily be oxidized by aldehyde dehydrogenase to yield acetic acid (4). Acetic acid is a primary metabolite of all cells. The corresponding degradation pathway in microorganisms is very similar. Acetic acid (4) is also the ultimate metabolic product. Theoretically the methyl groups of diethyl ether coulad also be hydroxylated by cytochrome P450 to yield 2-ethoxyethanol (5) erfolgen, which has not yet been confirmed by experiment. Further oxidation with alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase would the form 2-ethoxyacetic acid (6), which exhibits reproductive toxicity. This not yet confirmed metabolite could be responsible for the reproductive toxicity of of diethyl ether given in high doses. |
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