Reactions of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea in aqueous solution.

Products formed from the reaction of two chloroethylnitrosoureas in neutral aqueous solution have been identified and quantified. Mixture components recovered after a 1-h incubation period accounted for 75--85% of the starting nitrosourea. Approximately 65--85% of the reaction products were formed by an initial cleavage of the nitrosourea to the proposed intermediates 2-chloroethyl azohydroxide and an isocyanate and by subsequent hydrolytic reactions. A minor pathway, 5--10% of products, involves denitrosation of the nitrosourea with oxazoline formation. Stable isotope labeling and mass spectrometry have been used to determine the reaction sequence and product origins. Reaction product identification has been made using high-performance LC isolation and comparison with synthetic material.