N-nitroso-N-methylurea
Also known as methylnitrosourea
'''N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU''') is a highly reliable carcinogen, mutagen, and teratogen. NMU is an alkylating agent, and exhibits its toxicity by transferring its methyl group to nucleobases in nucleic acids, which can lead to AT:GC transition mutations.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C2H5N3O2
- Molecular weight
- 103.08 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea
via PubChem
Research
3,722 papers- N-nitroso-n-methylurea.IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to man · 1978
- N-Nitroso-N-methylurea.Report on carcinogens : carcinogen profiles · 2002
- Palliative Role of Aqueous Ginger Extract on N-Nitroso-N-Methylurea-Induced Gastric Cancer.Nutrition and cancer · 2020
- N-Nitroso-N-methylurea.Report on carcinogens : carcinogen profiles · 2004
- N-Nitrosamines (15 listings): N-Nitroso-N-methylurea.Report on carcinogens : carcinogen profiles · 2011
Article
2 sectionsContents
- References
- External links
'''N-Nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU') is a highly reliable carcinogen, mutagen, and teratogen. NMU is an alkylating agent, and exhibits its toxicity by transferring its methyl group to nucleobases in nucleic acids, which can lead to AT:GC transition mutations.
NMU is the traditional precursor in the synthesis of diazomethane. It has the potentially advantageous property that the stoichiometric byproducts formed are water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, which are innocuous or easily removed. However, because it is unstable at temperatures beyond 20 °C and somewhat shock-sensitive, it has become obsolete for this purpose and replaced by other N-nitroso compounds: (N-methyl)nitrosamides and nitrosamines. Most chemical supply houses have stopped carrying it.