The reductive metabolism of halothane was determined using purified RLM2, PBRLM4 and PBRLM5 forms of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450. The metabolites, 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (CTE) and 2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethylene (CDE), were determined. All three forms of cytochrome P-450 produced CTE with relatively small differences in its production among the various forms. There were major differences, however, in the production of CDE, with PBRLM5 being the most active. PBRLM5 was also the only form to show the development of a complex between halothane and cytochrome P-450. This complex absorbed light maximally at 470 nm. The complex formation and the production of CDE by PBRLM5 were stimulated by the addition of cytochrome b5. Cytochrome b5 had no effect on CDE production by PBRLM4 and inhibited the production of both CTE and CDE by RLM2. These results show that the two-electron reduction of halothane by cytochrome P-450 was catalyzed by the PBRLM5 form and that cytochrome b5 stimulated the transfer of the second electron to halothane through PBRLM5, but not RLM2 or PBRLM4.