2-chloroethanol formation as evidence for a 2-chloroethyl alkylating intermediate during chemical degradation of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea.
Chemical degradation of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea or 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea in buffer under physiological conditions resulted in the formation of a significant quantity of 2-chlorethanol (18 to 25% of the initial nitrosourea concentration). Other degradation products observed included acetaldehyde (5 to 10%), vinyl chloride (1 to 2%), ethylene (1 to 2%), and cyclohexylamine (32%), but not 1,3-dicyclohexylurea. The 2-chlorethyl moiety of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea was trapped with halide ions, CI-, BR-, and I-, to form the corresponding dihaloethanes which were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. High-pressure liquid chromatographic procedures were developed for the separation and quantiation of the nitrosoureas and many of their degradation products. It is postulated that a new mode of 1(2-chloreoethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea degradation can occur that is not the loss of the chloro group as chloride ion, but the loss of the N-3 hydrogen as a proton. Then the corresponding isocyanate and 2-chloroethyidiazene hydroxide are formed, with the latter intermidiate becoming an alkylating species, possibly in part as a 2-chloroethyl carbonium ion.
D000079:Acetaldehyde; D000478:Alkylation; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002713:Chlorine; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003514:Cyclohexylamines; D000431:Ethanol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005030:Ethylenes; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014753:Vinyl Compounds
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D003514:Cyclohexylamines; D005030:Ethylenes; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D000431:Ethanol; D002713:Chlorine; D014508:Urea; D000079:Acetaldehyde