Nitrous acid, reaction with amides secondary amines

If primary or secondary amines are used, A/-substituted amides are formed. This reaction is called aminolysis. Hydra2ines yield the corresponding hydra2ides, which can then be treated with nitrous acid to form the a2ides used in the Curtius rearrangement. Hydroxylamines give hydroxamic acids. 

When secondary amines are treated with nitrous acid, N-nitroso compounds (also called nitrosamines) are formed. The reaction can be accomplished with dialkyl-, diaryl-, or alkylarylamines, and even with mono-N-substituted amides RCONHR -I-HONO RCON(NO)R. Tertiary amines have also been N-nitrosated, but in these cases one group cleaves, so that the product is the nitroso derivative of a secondary amine.The group that cleaves appears as an aldehyde or... 

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