Self-consistent-field comparative studies of some nitrosoureas and nitrosamides.

Ab initio (self-consistent-field) calculations are performed in order to obtain information about the most stable conformers of methylnitrosourea, chloroethyl nitrosourea, and their corresponding amides (methylnitrosamide and chloroethylnitrosamide). While nitrosoureas are found to exhibit a Z-conformation, nitrosamides are found to exhibit an E-conformation, a difference which could account for their different stabilities toward in vivo decomposition and which could, as such, influence their carcinostatic activity.