The decarboxylation of N-carboxy-2-imidazolidinone has previously been established as a model for the transfer of carbon dioxide from N (1')-carboxybiotin. The present paper reports the pH-dependence of the reaction as well as the acceleration of the reaction in methanol and in acetonitrile. These results suggest that enzymic reactions of N (1')-carboxybiotin in a hydrophobic active site with decreased hydrogen bonding can be rapid if the energy of ...
