Oxidation of methyl groups by grass grubs and vertebrate liver enzymes

Abstract

1. Oxidation rates of p-nitrotoluene, p-acetamidotoluene and p-toluidine by intact grass grubs and vertebrate liver preparations were measured. 2. The effect of p-substitution in increasing the rate of conversion of the methyl into a carboxy group was in the order acetamido> nitro[unk] amino in mice and grass grubs. 3. Rates of oxidation of the N-methyl group in some alkylaryl N-methylcarbamates was measured and the effect of ring substituents in increasing the rate was in the order hydrogen> o-methyl or o-isopropyl> p-methyl or p-isopropyl> m-methyl or m-isopropyl. 4. Rates of oxidation of the N-methyl groups were similar to those of the p-substituted toluenes.