Question

Amphetamine undergoes one of the following metabolic reaction to convert to 1-phenyl-2-propanol metabolite via ketone formation:

• A. Hydrolysis
• B. Oxidation
• C. Reduction
• D. Hydroxylation

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Amphetamine, a psychoactive drug, undergoes various metabolic transformations in the human body. The question asks about the specific metabolic reaction that converts amphetamine to its metabolite, 1-phenyl-2-propanol, via ketone formation. This transformation involves the conversion of an intermediate ketone to an alcohol. Let's analyze the options to determine the correct metabolic reaction:

1. Hydrolysis: This reaction usually involves the breakdown of a compound in the presence of water. It's mainly seen in the breaking of esters, amides, or other similar functional groups, and does not pertain to ketone to alcohol transformation. Thus, this is not the correct option.
2. Oxidation: This reaction involves the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, often converting alcohols to ketones or ketones to acids. Since the change from a ketone to an alcohol involves a reduction in oxidation state, oxidation is not applicable here.
3. Reduction: This typically involves the gain of electrons and results in a decrease in oxidation state. In this context, the ketone group in amphetamine is reduced to an alcohol group to form 1-phenyl-2-propanol. Hence, the action of reducing a carbonyl group to an alcohol confirms that this is the correct answer.
4. Hydroxylation: While this involves the introduction of an -OH group into a compound, it pertains more directly to oxidation reactions involving the introduction of hydroxyl groups, different from the conversion of a ketone to an alcohol.

Therefore, the reduction reaction is the accurate metabolic transformation in this context, as it involves the conversion of a ketone to an alcohol via the gain of hydrogen.