The different effects of some amylose derivatives on the hydrolysis of N-dodecyl-2-chloropyridinium iodide (I) and p-nitrophenyl laurate (II) have been studied. Either aminoethylamylose (AEA) or imidazole catalyzes the hydrolysis of I, but carboxymethylhistaminoacylmethylamylose (CHA) inhibits the reaction. This result could be attributed to the size differential between amino and imidazole groups, in same way, carboxymethyldiaminoethylacylmethylamylose (CAA) catalyzes the hydrolysis of a neutral substrate II much efficiently than CHA. From the study of degree of substitution in CHA on hydrolysis of N-dodecyl-3-acetyloxypyridinium iodide, a same conclusion from enzyme catalysis that a loose complex between host and substrate possesses higher catalytic efficiency can be derived based on this model system.

Key words: PYRIDINE P, IMIDAZOLE P, HYDROLYSIS, CHLOROHYDROCARBON, IODIDE, HYDROXY GROUP, CARBOXY GROUP, C12 COMPOUNDS, CLATHRATES, AMYLOSE