Abstract

The chemistry of nitroso compounds has received considerable attention from several directions in recent years. This review will focus on describing the practical aspects, and current and potential applications of cyclodextrins in mechanistic studies of NO-transfer processes. The first section describes some physicochemical aspects of aqueous cyclodextrin solutions that are of crucial importance in relation to mechanistic studies. The next section analyses all types of information that can be obtained from different nitrosation reaction patterns either in acid or basic media, by paying special attention to the nitrosatable substrates and nitrosating agents. Relevant aspects concerning the biological activity of nitroso compounds is also included. The last section covers a detailed analysis of the effects of cyclodextrins on reactions undergone by nitroso compounds, such as hydrolysis or NO-transfer, as well as on reactions that produce nitroso compounds.

Keywords: nitrosation, no-transfer, cyclodextrins, reaction mechanism, catalysis