Solvolysis of N-hydroxyalkyl-N-nitrosoureas

The stabilities of N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-nitrosourea and N-3-hydroxypropyl-N-nitrosourea have been studied in aqueous solution as functions of temperature and pH. While the solvolysis of N-3-hydroxypropyl-N-nitrosourea occurs at comparable rate with respect to N-alkyl-N-nitrosoureas, N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-nitrosourea readily decomposes. The investigation carried out at various pH values showed that solvolysis reaction was catalysed by hydroxyl anions. By a temperature dependence study the activation energies of the process have been calculated.