Nitroso amines, reduction

Few examples of the preparation of hydrazines or hydroxylamines on insoluble supports have been reported (Table 10.17). Hydrazines have been prepared by the reduction of aromatic diazonium salts or /V-nitroso amines (prepared from secondary amines by treatment with tert-butyl nitrite [340]), and by the N-amination of support-bound amines (Entry 3, Table 10.17). The direct reduction of hydrazones with borane to yield hydrazines on solid phase has not been reported, and appears to be difficult because of the ease with which the N-N bond of hydrazines is cleaved by reducing agents [340]. 

Nitroso Benzene.—The nitroso or nitrous acid derivatives are exactly analogous to the nitro or nitric acid derivatives. As the nitro radical is (AO2), so the nitroso radical is NO) and whenever this radical is present, as we found in the nitroso-amines (p. 61), and as we shall find in some more complex compounds of the dye class, it means nitroso derivative. The simplest representative, viz., nitroso benzene, CeHs—NO, differs from nitro benzene in that it is not formed by the direct action of the acid on the hydrocarbon nor, as shown above, is it able to be isolated as a reduction product of nitro benzene. It is prepared, however, by the oxidation of phenyl hydroxyl amine, either by means of ferric chloride, FeCU, or of chromic acid, CrOa. 

Nitrosamines are formed whenever nitrosating agents come in contact with secondary amines. Indeed, more nitrosamines are probably synthesized within our body than enter it by environmental contamination. Enzyme-catalyzed reduction of nitrate (NOs ) produces nitrite (N02 ), which combines with amines present in the body to form A-nitroso amines. 

Secondary and tertiary amines are not generally prepared in the laboratory. On the technical scale methylaniline is prepared by heating a mixture of aniline hydrochloride (55 parts) and methyl alcohol (16 parts) at 120° in an autoclave. For dimethylaniline, aniline and methyl alcohol are mixed in the proportion of 80 78, 8 parts of concentrated sulphuric acid are added and the mixture heated in an autoclave at 230-235° and a pressure of 25-30 atmospheres. Ethyl- and diethyl-anihne are prepared similarly. One method of isolating pure methyl- or ethyl-aniline from the commercial product consists in converting it into the Y-nitroso derivative with nitrous acid, followed by reduction of the nitroso compound with tin and hydrochloric acid ... 

Reactions. The chemistry of the /V-nitrosamines is extensive and will be only summarized here (8,35,42). Most of the reactions of the nitrosamines, with respect to thek biological or environmental behavior, involve one of two main reactive centers, either the nitroso group itself or the C—H bonds adjacent (a) to the amine nitrogen. The nitroso group can be removed readily by a reaction which is essentially the reverse of the nitrosation reaction, or by oxidation or reduction (68,69). 

Although this reduction is more expensive than the Bnchamp reduction, it is used to manufacture aromatic amines which are too sensitive to be made by other methods. Such processes are used extensively where selectivity is required such as in the preparation of nitro amines from dinitro compounds, the reduction of nitrophenol and nitroanthraquinones, and the preparation of aminoazo compounds from the corresponding nitro derivatives. Amines are also formed under the conditions of the Zinin reduction from aromatic nitroso and azo compounds. 

The N,]S -dialkyl-/)-PDAs are manufactured by reductively alkylating -PDA with ketones. Alternatively, these compounds can be prepared from the ketone and -lutroaruline with catalytic hydrogenation. The /V-alkyl-/V-aryl- -PDAs are made by reductively alkylating -nitro-, -nitroso-, or /)-aminodipheny1 amine with ketones. The AijAT-dialkyl- PDAs are made by condensing various anilines with hydroquinone in the presence of an acid catalyst (see Amines-aromatic,phenylenediamines). 

A -Nitroso derivatives, prepared from secondary amines and nitrous acid, are cleaved by reduction (H2/Raney Ni, EtOH, 28°, 3.5 h CuCl/concd. HCl"). Since many V-nitroso compounds are carcinogens, and because some racemization and cyclodehydration of V-nitroso derivatives of V-alkyl amino acids occur during peptide syntheses, V-nitroso derivatives are of limited value as protective groups. 

Reductive alkylations have been carried out successfully with compounds that are not carbonyls or amines, but which are transformed during the hydrogenation to suitable functions. Azides, azo, hydrazo, nitro and nitroso compounds, oximes, pyridines, and hydroxylamines serve as amines phenols, acetals, ketals, or hydrazones serve as carbonyls 6,7,8,9,12,17,24,41,42,58). Alkylations using masked functions have been successful at times when use of unmasked functions have failed (2). In a synthesis leading to methoxatin, a key... 

Aromatic nitro compounds are hydrogenated very easily aliphatic nitro compounds considerably more slowly. Hydrogenations have been carried out successfully under a wide range of conditions including vapor phase (S9). Usually the goal of reduction is the amine, but at times the reduction is arrested at the intermediate hydroxylamine or oxime stage nitroso compounds never accumulate, although their transient presence may appreciably influence the course of reaction. In practice, nitro compounds often contain other reducible functions that are to be either maintained or reduced as well. 

Aromatic nitroso compounds usually are considered to be intermediates in the hydrogenation of a nitroaromatic compound to the aromatic hydroxyl-amine or amine. However, nitroso compounds do not accumulate in these reductions, suggesting that they are reduced more easily than are nitro compounds. Catalysts effective for the nitro group should also be effective for nitroso. 

Reductive alkylation has also been carried out on nitro, nitroso, azo, and other compounds that are reduced in situ to primary or secondary amines. 

The mechanisms of these reductions have been very little studied, though it is usually presumed that, at least with some reducing agents, nitroso compounds and hydroxylamines are intermediates. Both of these types of compounds give amines when exposed to most of these reducing agents (19-43), and hydroxylamines can be... 

Bacteria have been Implicated in the formation of N-nitroso compounds under a wide variety of conditions representing both vitro and vivo situations Mechanisms of participation and/or catalysis Include a) decrease of the pH of the system, b) reduction of nitrate to nitrite, c) adsorption of amine onto the cell surface or cytoplasmic membrane, d) actual enzymatic formation. The literature of the field will be reviewed and experimental evidence which tests the above mechanisms will be presented ... 

N-Nitrosamines, formed principally from the reaction of naturally occurring secondary amines with nitrites that may be added to foods or produced by bacterial reduction of nitrates, have been identified in many food systems including cured meat products, nonfat dried milk, dried malt and beer. In addition, the presence of less volatile and non-volatile N-nitroso compounds or their precursors in foods have been suggested from a number of model system studies. 

Aromatic nitro and nitroso compounds are easily reduced at carbon and mercury electrodes. Other nitro compounds such as nitrate esters, nitramines, and nitrosamines are also typically easily reduced. The complete reduction of a nitro compound consists of three two-electron steps (nitro-nitroso-hydroxylamine-amine). Since most organic oxidations are only two-electron processes, higher sensitivity is typically found for nitro compounds. Several LCEC based determination of nitro compounds have been reported... 

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