N-dealkylation of amines during water disinfection – Revealing a new direction in the formation of disinfection by-products.

Among numerous disinfection by-products (DBP) forming during aqueous chlorination nitrogen containing species are of special concern due to their toxicological properties. Nevertheless, corresponding reaction products of these natural and anthropogenic compounds are not sufficiently studied so far. An interesting reaction involves dealkylation of the substituted amine moiety. Here we present the results of the comparative study of one-electron oxidation and aqueous chlorination of several aliphatic and aromatic amines. The reaction products were reliably identified with gas chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS), high pressure liquid chromatography – electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry HPLC-ESI/HRMS), and electrochemistry - electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry (EC-ESI/HRMS). Certain similarities dealing with the formation of the corresponding aldehydes and substitution of alkyl groups at the nitrogen atom for hydrogen were shown for the studied processes. The mechanism of the substituted amines' aqueous chlorination involving one-electron oxidation is proposed and confirmed by the array of the observed reaction products. Alternative reactions taking place in conditions of aqueous chlorination, i.e. aromatic electrophilic substitution, may successfully compete with dealkylation and produce major products. [Display omitted] • Aqueous chlorination of tertiary/secondary amines results in dealkylation process. • The dealkylation mechanism is similar to one-electron oxidation. • Arylamines undergo both dealkylation and electrophilic substitution. • Final DBPs of tertiary and secondary amines may be more toxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]