Formation and nucleophilic capture of N-nitrosiminium ions

Abstract

A study of the solvolysis of a series of (N-nitrosomethylamino)arylmethyl esters and azides and the products of nucleophilic trapping of the corresponding N-nitrosiminium ion intermediates in aqueous media, 25°C, ionic strength 1 M is reported. Structure-reactivity data for the forward and reverse reactions have been obtained. In three cases, the rate constants for reactions of the cations with nucleophiles have been measured directly by laser flash photolysis. The data allow a comparison of the degree to which the N-methyl-N-nitroso functionality enhances cation stability from a thermodynamic and kinetic perspective. It has been possible to deduce that the carbon basicity of azide ion is less than 1 kcal/mol greater than that of acetate ion.Key words: nitrosiminium ions, α-acetoxynitrosamines, carbocations, iminium ions, nucleophilicity.