Abstract
The review gives for the first time a systematic account of the extensive literature data on the chemistry of aliphatic nitrosamines. A separate chapter summarises the work on the physical properties, structure, and spectra of $\mathrm{N}$-nitroso-derivatives. The chemical behaviour of the nitrosamines is determined largely by the characteristics of the $p$-$\pi$-conjugation in the $>\!\!\mathrm{N}\overset{\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot}-\mathrm{N}
\overset{\cdot\cdot\cdot\cdot}-\mathrm{O}$ fragment. The principal chemical reactions of nitrosamines are treated from this standpoint: the denitrosation reaction, the formation of complexes, the cyclisation to sydnones and sydnoneimines, and the synthesis of lactams. In conclusion, certain aspects of the practical applications of nitrosamines are considered.
The bibliography includes 272 references.