Abstract: The pH-log rate profiles for the hydrolysis of ethyl o-nitrophenyl malonate (I), ethyl o- nitrophenyl methylmalonate (111), ethyl p-nitrophenyl methylmalonate (IV), and ethyl o- nitrophenyl dimethylmalonate (V) have been determined in water at 30”) ionic strength= 1.0. Ester V hydrolyzes via the expected spontaneous general-base water-catalyzed and hydroxide-catalyzed mechanisms. Esters I, 111, and IV, which contain a-protons, have ...