[Change of toxicity and carcinogenicity of n-methyl-n-nitrosobenzylamine in rats by methylsubstitution at the c-atoms adjacent to nitrogen (author's transl)].

Substitution with a methyl group at the C-atoms adjacent to nitrogen of N-nitroso-N-methylbenzylamine (NMBA) results in a considerable reduction LD 50: N-nitroso-N-methylbenzylamine : 18 mg/kg (Druckrey et al., 1967) N-nitroso-N-methyl-(1-phenyl)-ethylamine (I) : 600 mg/kg N-nitroso-N-methyl-2-(2-phenyl)-propylamine (II) : 2100 mg/kg N-nitroso-N-ethyl-benzylamine (III) : 250 mg/kg Substitution with a methyl group at the methylene of the moiety of NMBA (NMPEA I) reduces also the carcinogenic activity, but it produces in all animals carcinomas of the oesophagus and the pharynx; the replacement of both H-atoms by methyl groups (NMPPA, II) causes under the condition chosen no development of tumors, because for the activation step no proton is available. The exchange of N-methyl by N-ethyl of NMBA (NEBA, III) however produces no change in the carcinogenicity.