Metabolism of 1,1-bis-(p-ethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropane in the house fly and the cluster caterpillar

Some aspects of the metabolism of a new insecticide, 1,1-bis-(p-ethoxyphenyl)-2-nitropropane have been investigated in the house fly, Musca domestica and the cluster caterpillar, Spodoptera litura. In the house fly the compound was deethylated and after 24 hr exposure, 1-(p-ethoxyphenyl)-1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-nitropropane and 1,1-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-nitropropane were isolated. From evidence given below it is probable that conjugates of these compounds were also present. Feeding of the insecticide to S. litura resulted in the excretion of mainly unchanged insecticide although a small percentage was converted to a polar compound tentatively identified as 1,1-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propanone.