The mechanism of decomposition of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in aqueous solution according to 13 C and 15 N NMR studies: quantitative fragmentation to cyanate

The use of 13C NMR spectroscopy to monitor the decomposition of [13CO]N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, and of 15N NMR spectroscopy to follow the decomposition of [15NH2]N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, both in aqueous phosphate buffer at pH 7, shows the initial product to be cyanate rather than carbamate; the cyanate reacts with phosphate to give carbamoyl phosphate.