Abstract: The kinetics and mechanism of the Bamberger cleavage of imidazole and certain histidine derivatives by diethyl pyrocarbonate in dilute aqueous solution have been studied. The cleavage yields have been measured as a function of reagent concentrations and of pH, and the cleavage rates have been measured as a function of reagent concentrations. At low diethyl pyrocarbonate concentrations (< 10 mM) in phosphate buffer at pH 6.0 ...
