THE NON-ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF p-NITROPHENYL PHOSPHATE

The kinetics of the non-enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate have been studied in aqueous solution in the pH range 2.6 to 9.0 and at temperatures from 68.0°to 82.0 °C. The reaction has been followed by colorimetric measurement of the nitrophenol produced by the reaction[Formula: see text]The reaction is first order with respect to p-nitrophenyl phosphate and has an activation energy of 26.0 kcal./mole at pH 2.6. An explanation has been proposed in terms of the different rates of hydrolysis of the various ionic species of the ester present in solution.