Transnitrosation by N-Aryl-N-nitrosoureas : NO-Carrying O-Nitrosoisourea

Abstract

Transfer of nitroso groups, so-called transnitrosation, from aromatic N-nitroso compounds such as N-nitrosoureas, N-nitrosamides and N-nitrosamines, to aromatic amines or ureas was observed under non-acidic conditions at room temperature. Sterically hindered 3, 3-dibenzyl-1-(4-tolyl)-1-nitrosourea (1a) rapidly nitrosates indoline, N-alkylanilines or 3-methyl-1-(4-tolyl)urea to give their N-nitroso derivatives. In the case of N, N-dimethylanilines, nitrosative demethylation occurs to give N-methyl-N-nitrosanilines. The transnitrosation is accelerated by electron-releasing groups on the nitroso acceptors, N-alkylanilines. The transnitrosation mechanism is considered to be as follows : N-nitrosourea (1) thermally decomposes to nitric oxide and ureidyl radical followed by formation of an O-nitrosoisourea intermediate (10), which acts as an NO-carrying agent and nitrosates anilines or ureas.