Aromatic hydroxylamines 1 have been postulated as intermediates in the carcinogenic process induced by some aromatic amines. The necessary chemical activation of 1 for the latter stages of this process can subsequently be achieved by 0-acylation, rendering the N-0 bond labile for cleavage and reaction with DNA bases. 2 We have discovered that aromatic hydroxylamines react with aroyl cyanides at room temperature to afford in almost ...