PHOTOLYSIS OF SOME N-NITROSO-ANILINES AND N-NITRO-ANILINES IN SOLUTION

The photolyses of three N-methyl-N-nitrosoanilines and two N-methyl-N- nitroanilines in organic solvents have been studied in the range of 30 0-340 nm. The influence of solvent character and the presence or absen ce of oxygen play important roles in the product composition range. Th e primary photochemical process involves N-N fission, this being homol ytic in aprotic solvents and heterolytic in methanol. Three novel mech anistic conclusions are; proposed, namely photosolvolysis of a nitrosa mine in methanol, photooxidation of nitrosamines in aprotic solvents a nd the production of biphenyl derivatives on photolysis of nitro-subst ituted nitrosamines and nitramines in aromatic solvents.