Kinetic study of the nitrosation ofN-alkylureas in dioxane-acetic acid mixtures

Abstract

The rate constants were determined for the nitrosation reactions of the following substrates: Methyl (MU), Ethyl (EU),Propyl (PU)Butyl (BU), and Allylurea (AU). The rate equation found at a constant pH was: v=k[HNO2] [Urea]. The reactions were carried out in predominantly organic media(dioxane–acetic acid–water) with differing polarities. The proposed reaction mechanism involves the proton transfer from the protonated N-alkyl-N-nitrosourea to the acetate anion. As the polarity of the medium decreased, an approximation of the rate constants of the nitrosation of the different substrates was observed. This approximation can be interpreted as a function of the impediment generated by the R alkyl radical in the rate controlling step. Accordingly, the substrate reactivity will be associated with the ease in which the protonated N-alkyl-N nitrosurea can transfer the proton to the acetate anion. The results achieved in this study are in accordance with there activities observed in the nitrosation of these substrates in aqueous media MU≫(EU≈PU≈BU)>AU. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 145–150, 1998.