Micellar Catalysis of Organic Reactions. XVII. Hydrolysis of Nitrazepam and Some N-Alkylated Derivatives

Product studies for the acid catalysed hydrolysis of nitrazepam and some N-alkyl derivatives in the presence of micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate ( sds ) have been carried out by a U.V. spectrophotometric technique. Attack of water at C2 leading to initial amide cleavage is favoured by high acid concentrations, by micelles of sds and by small R groups attached to the amide nitrogen atom. For nitrazepam, a change of mechanism from water attack at C5 (leading to initial azomethine cleavage) to water attack at C2 (leading to initial amide cleavage) was observed on transfer from water to micelles of sds . For N-benzyl nitrazepam (1d), however, no change of mechanism was detected. Initial attack of water occurred at C5 (leading to initial azomethine cleavage), both in aqueous solution and in micelles of sds.