The mechanism of decomposition of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in aqueous solution according to 13C and 15N NMR studies: quantitative fragmentation to cyanate

Abstract

The use of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to monitor the decomposition of [¹³CO]N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, and of ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy to follow the decomposition of [¹⁵NH₂]N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, both in aqueous phosphate buffer at pH 7, shows the initial product to be cyanate rather than carbamate; the cyanate reacts with phosphate to give carbamoyl phosphate.