We have developed a new method of N-nitrosation of various secondary and tertiary amines, amides and ureas using a mixture of tin(IV) chloride and sodium nitrate. This method leads to a selective, high-yielding and mild heterogeneous N-nitrosation by in situ generation of nitrosyl chloride (NOCl). The reaction can be carried out in several different solvents such as chloroform, dichloromethane, ethers, ethyl acetate and alcohols, at room temperature.
tin(IV) chloride - N-nitrosation - nitrosamines - nitrosoureas - nitrosamides