Formation of N-nitrosamines and N-nitramines by photolysis

N-Nitrosamines are generated by the photolysis of neutral aqueous solutions of nitrite salts and heterocyclic amines. With nitrate salts, photolysis produces a mixture of N-nitrosamines and N-nitramines. The reactions occur with low (5 mmol/l) reagent concentrations under very mild conditions and are faster than the concurrent decomposition of N-nitrosamines and N-nitramines by photolysis. Furthermore, both N-nitrosamines and N-nitramines effect transnitrosation reactions under mild neutral conditions when photolysed in the presence of other amines.