Light-induced transformation of alkylurea derivatives in aqueous TiO2 dispersion

The light-induced degradation of alkylurea derivatives under simulated solar irradiation has been investigated in aqueous solutions containing TiO(2) as a photocatalyst. Herein, we will focus on how the presence of one or more methyl (or ethyl) groups on urea modifies the kinetics of disappearance and influences both the ratio and the extent of the inorganic nitrogen formation caused by different degradation pathways. In the present work, we have elucidated a mechanism for the formation of transformation products of the alkyl derivatives by combining several analytical and spectroscopic procedures and the theoretical simulation of ab initio calculations. In all cases, N-demethylation represents only a secondary pathway, while the main transformation proceeds through an unexpected cyclization, involving (m)ethyl- and di(m)ethylureas with the formation of (methyl)amino-2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-one as the principal intermediate of the reaction (with a yield of 60 %). This behaviour is rather unexpected and in contrast with the typical photocatalyzed transformation pathways, which proceed through the formation of more simple structures.