Primary amino acid N-carboxy anhydrides (NCA's) react with amines and sodium methoxide to yield carbamic acid derivatives. Evidence is adduccd to demonstrate that under basic conditions NCA's can be converted to such intermediates and that isocyanato acids are likely intermediates in certain NCA polymerization reactions. An approximate equilibrium constant for base-catalyzed dissociation in dioxane of p-nitrophenyl N-phenylcarbamate ...
