The initial rates of the nitrilase (Novo)-catalyzed hydrolysis of a series of para-substituted benzyl cyanides (R= NO2, Cl, OCH3, OH, NH2) were found to be susceptible to the nature of the para-substituent of the substrate and a Hammett-type linear free energy correlation was observed with ϱ= 0.96. In a separate study, effective solubilization of substituted benzyl cyanide substrates having electron-donating groups (OH, NH2, OCH3) was achieved ...
