Abstract: Twelve amines, which vary substantially in basicity and in steric environment around N, have been allowed to compete-in anhydrous dioxane solution-in the aminolysis of the N-hydroxysuccinimide esters of unsubstituted, p-OCH,, p-NO,, and 3, 5-(NO2)* benzoic acids. The amines, which encompass a basicity range of 6.5 pK units, display a 10000-fold variation in reactivity in their reaction with the p-NO2 ester. For the sterically unhindered ...