Methylnitronitrosoguanidine

Methylnitronitrosoguanidine[1]
IUPAC name 1-methyl-2-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine
Other names N-Methyl-N-nitroso-N′-nitroguanidine; N-Methlyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine
Identifiers
Abbreviations	MNNG
CAS number	70-25-7 Y
PubChem	9562060
KEGG	C14592 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES CN(C(=N[N+](=O)[O-])N)N=O
Properties
Molecular formula	C2H5N5O3
Molar mass	147.09 g/mol
Appearance	Yellow crystals
Melting point	118 °C (dec.)
Solubility in water	reacts violently, slowly hydrolysed
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Methylnitronitrosoguanidine (MNNG) is a biochemical tool used experimentally as a carcinogen and mutagen.^[1] It acts by adding alkyl groups to the O⁶ of guanine and O⁴ of thymine. These changes do not cause a heavy distortion in the double helix of DNA and thus are hard to detect by the DNA mismatch repair system.

In organic chemistry, MNNG is used as a source of diazomethane when reacted with aqueous potassium hydroxide.^[2]

MNNG is a probable human carcinogen listed as an IARC Group 2A carcinogen.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Merck Index, 11th Edition, 6017.
2. ^ Aldrichimica Acta 16 (3). 1983. 
3. ^ N-METHYL-N'-NITRO-N-NITROSOGUANIDINE (MNNG), International Agency for Research on Cancer