Nitrenium ions, acetylaminofluorene

Not only is the leaving group important, but if the reaction has SnI character, the stability of the positive charge left behind is also important. In the examples above, a primary carbocation is difficult to form and therefore the reaction of busulfan with glutathione would likely be a SN2-type reaction, whereas the nitrenium ion and carbocation formed from N -acetylaminofluorene and safrole, respectively, are relatively stable and likely to be Sn 1 -type reactions. 

The reactive nitrenium or carbonium ions postulated to be produced will react with nucleophilic groups in nucleic acids, proteins, and sulfydryl compounds such as glutathione (GSH) and methionine. The arylation of DNA by acetylaminofluorene has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro. The involvement of sulfate conjugation brings other factors into play. Depletion of body sulfate reduces, and supplementation with organic sulfate increases the carcinogenicity of acetylaminofluorene. The production of covalent adducts between acetylaminofluorene and cellular macromolecules in vivo can be shown to be correspondingly decreased and increased by manipulation of body sulfate levels. 

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