- Decomposition of N′-benzoyl-N-nitrosoureas in aqueous media
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The decomposition of N′-benzoyl-N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (BMNU) in aqueous media over the 0-14 pH range has been studied. In basic and neutral media (6 a = 7.8) and subsequent decomposition of the conjugate base of the thus formed nitrosourea, via an intermediate benzoyl isocyanate. Support for this mechanism is provided by the presence of N,N′-dibenzoylurea in the final reaction mixtures, as the result of the trapping of benzoyl isocyanate with benzamide generated from hydrolysis of the former. The hydrolysis of BMNU takes place through three competitive pathways: spontaneous decomposition of the conjugate base of BMNU, and buffer-catalyzed and hydroxide ion catalyzed water addition to the carbonyl group of the deprotonated nitrosourea. N′-Benzoyl-N,N′-dimethyl-N-nitrosourea (BDMNU), a benzoyl nitrosourea lacking the acidic proton of BMNU, is hydrolyzed in basic media by attack of hydroxide ion on the carbonyl group of the urea. In acid media (0 pH 6), BMNU gives only deamination products, differing from the reported behavior of other N-nitroso compounds and of the isoster nitrosoguanidine, in which denitrosation is almost quantitative. The reaction is acid-catalyzed in the 0-2.5 pH range and pH-independent in the 3-5 pH range. The presence of general acid catalysis (a = 0.60), the absence of nucleophilic catalysis, and the thermodynamic activation parameters for the reaction support the mechanism proposed in the literature for the deamination of N-nitrosoureas in acidic media. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005.
- Faustino, Celia,Garcia-Rio, Luis,Leis, Jose Ramon,Norberto, Fatima
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p. 154 - 161
(2007/10/03)
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- Thiolytic decomposition of the carcinogen N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. A change in rate-limiting step with nucleophile basicity controls alkylating activity
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The kinetics of the reaction of seven alkanethiolates with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine over the pH range 3-8.5 at 40 °C, ionic strength 1 M (KCl), are reported. Plots of kobs against total thiol concentration are linear, and the slopes of these plots change as a function of pH. The changes in slope with pH are well-described by a rate law for decomposition of MNNG that is first-order in thiolate ion and first-order in neutral MNNG. Rate constants k2′ for the reaction of the thiolates are determined. There is no significant buffer catalysis of the reactions of any of the thiolates in the pH range studied. In the case of the reactions of propanethiolate and trifluoroethanethiolate, two products, methylnitroguanidine (MNG) and the thiol ((RS)-N-nitroformamidine) adducts 1, were found to account quantitatively (98 ± 3%) for the nitroguanidine skeleton of the starting material. In the case of the other five thiolates, the percent yield of MNG was determined. The yields of MNG are independent of thiolate ion concentration or buffer concentration. The yield of MNG changes from 5% for the reaction of propanethiolate, the most basic thiolate, to 90% for the reaction of pentafluoropropanethiolate, the least basic thiolate. On the basis of the yields of MNG, which indicate the extent of reaction at the nitroso nitrogen for the different thiolates, specific second-order rate constants for the thiolate ion reaction at the nitroso nitrogen, kDN, and for the thiolate ion reaction at the guanidino carbon, kDA, are calculated from the total second-order rate constant, k2′. The plot of log kDN against pKaRSH is linear with a slope βnuc = 0.54 ± 0.02. A similar plot for log kDA shows a downward break with decreasing thiol pKa. The plot is consistent with a reaction that involves an anionic intermediate, T-, the formation of which is rate-limiting for basic thiolates and the decomposition of which is rate-limiting for weakly basic thiolates. Limiting values of βnuc consistent with the data were determined to be βnuc = 0.70 ± 0.12 and 2.4 ± 0.2 for rate-limiting formation and breakdown reactions, respectively. The latter value is attributed to a late transition state for leaving group expulsion with a large imbalance in which C-N double bond formation lags behind leaving group expulsion. The results represent a good chemical model for the recently reported chemoprotective denitrosation reaction between glutathione and MNNG that is catalyzed by a glutathione S-transferase.
- Santala, Taina,Fishbein, James C.
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p. 8852 - 8857
(2007/10/02)
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