N-Dealkylation-N-nitrosation of Tertiary Aromatic Amines by n-Butyl Nitrite

N,N-Dialkyl aromatic amines with a variety of ring substituents are N-dealkylated and N-nitrosated efficiently by n-butyl nitrite/ammonium chloride/water at reflux temperature. Ring nitrosation was never observed, but minor amounts of m- and p-nitro amines and/or nitrosamines were formed in some cases. Ring nitration is rather a reaction of the initial substrate than a process occurring on formed nitrosamines. The leaving propensities of the initial N-substituents to yield nitrosamines were in the order benzyl > > methyl > > alkyl.