The reaction between triethylamine (TEA) and a series of para-substituted N- chloroacetanilides has been studied in aqueous solution buffered to pHs between 1 and 5. In these reactions, the exclusive product derived from the aromatic moiety is the corresponding acetanilide. The reaction occurs via two parallel pseudo-second-order paths, one acid catalyzed (the Orton-like mechanism), the other uncatalyzed. The uncatalyzed ...