The mobilities of 24 potential metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene were examined with high pressure liquid chromatography. Twelve phenols, five quinones, four dihydrodiols, and three oxides were studied. The chromatographic procedure employed allowed the separation and quantitation of benzopyrene metabolites into three major groups consisting of phenols, quinones, and dihydrodiols. Two of the benzopyrene oxides were unstable during chromatography, whereas the third oxide was more stable and chromatographed in the quinone fraction. Treatment of rats with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene enhanced the metabolism of benzopyrene by liver microsomes and altered the relative amounts of the various metabolites formed. In the absence of epoxide hydrase (EC 4.2.1.63), benzopyrene was metabolized primarily to phenols and quinones but was not appreciably metabolized to dihydrodiols by a solubilized, reconstituted cytochrome P-448 monooxygenase system. Addition of partially purified epoxide hydrase resulted in the formation of benzopyrene dihydrodiols with a concomitant decrease in the formation of phenolic metabolites, indicating that benzopyrene undergoes metabolism via arene oxides that are precursors for dihydrodiols and phenols.