Production of nitroxyl (HNO) at biologically relevant temperatures from the retro-Diels–Alder reaction of N-hydroxyurea-derived acyl nitroso-9,10-dimethylanthracene cycloadducts

Retro Diels–Alder reaction of N-hydroxyurea-derived acyl nitroso compound-9,10-dimethylanthracene cycloadducts produce acyl nitroso compounds that react with nucleophiles to form nitrous oxide, which indicates the intermediacy of nitroxyl. These results identify these molecules as a new group of nitroxyl delivery agents.