N-Dealkylation-N-nitrosation of Tertiary Aromatic Amines by n-Butyl Nitrite

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)81940-2

N,N-Dialkyl aromatic amines with a variety of ring substituents are N-dealkylated and N-nitrosated efficiently by n-butyl nitrite/ammonium chloride/water at reflux temperature.Ring nitrosation was never observed, but minor amounts of m- and p-nitro amines and/or nitrosamines were formed in some cases.Ring nitration is rather a reaction of the initial substrate than a process occurring on formed nitrosamines.The leaving propensities of the initial N-substituents to yield nitrosamines were in the order benzyl >> methyl >> alkyl.Key Words: Nitrosamines; N-Dealkylation; N-Nitrosation; C-Nitration; Alkyl nitrite.