Metabolism of the stable nitroxyl radical 4-oxo-2,2,6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPONE).

The formation of new metabolites of the stable nitroxyl radical 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPONE) inside the isolated perfused rat liver was examined. The paramagnetic 4-hydroxy derivative (TEMPOL) and the diamagnetic 1,4-dihydroxy derivative were found to be the major metabolites besides the well-known corresponding hydroxylamine of TEMPONE. No reoxidation of the hydroxyl group in the 4-position was observed.