Ion‐Induced Specificity Change in Polymer‐Catalyzed Solvolyses of p‐Nitrophenyl Alkanoates

Spheres, rods, or vesicles are formed by the polymer 1, depending on the added salt (tris(hydroxymethyl)methylammonium chloride (TrisCl) or NaCl) and its concentration. Consequently, ion-induced substrate specificity occurs in the 1-catalyzed solvolysis of p-nitrophenyl alkanoates 2 at pH 8.0 and 30°C. With TrisCl, 2 (n = 6) is preferentially hydrolyzed and with NaCl, 2 (n = 14) or 2 (n = 12) depending on the concentration (c = 0–0.1 or 0.25–1.00M, respectively).