Syntheses of N-alkyl-N-(hydroxy- or oxo-alkyl) nitrosamines related to N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitroamine, a potent bladder carcinogen.

Nineteen N-alkyl-N-(hydroxy- or oxo-alkyl) nitrosamines structurally related to N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine, a potent bladder carcinogen, were synthesized for the purpose of investigating their carcinogenic effects in rats. They are N-alkyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamines, N-alkyl-(3-hydroxypropyl)-nitrosamines, N-alkyl-N-(2-hydroxyalkyl) nitrosamines, and N-alkyl-N-(2- or 3-oxoalkyl) nitrosamines. They were mostly prepared by the nitrosation of the corresponding N-alkyl-N-(hydroxyalkyl) amines. The nitrosamines with an oxo group were prepared by chromium trioxide oxidation of the corresponding N-alkyl-N-(hydroxyalkyl) nitrosamines with a secondary hydroxyl group.