Photochemistry of nitroso compounds in solution. VI. Photolysis of N-nitrosamides in acidic media

Abstract

The photolyses of several N-nitrosamides in acidic media were studied and compared with the photolysis of N-nitrosamines on the one hand, and with the thermolysis of N-nitrosamides on the other. The course of the photolysis was found to be similar to that of the N-nitrosamine photolysis, namely, (i) photo-elimination of [NOH], and (ii) a light-catalyzed denitrosation. In contrast to the exclusive cleavage of the nitrogen–carbonyl bond in the thermal decomposition of the N-nitrosamides, photolysis results in fission of the nitrogen–nitrogen bond.