CATALYTIC EFFICIENCY OF SYNTHETIC MICELLAR CATALYSTS BEARING A MERCAPTO GROUP AS THE REACTION CENTER

In order to obtain a clue to understanding the micro-environmental effect on the reactivity of a mercapto group placed in a reaction center of enzymes, micellar surfactants bearing a mercapto group were synthesized and their catalytic activity in the degradation of p-nitrophenyl carboxylates was studied. N-Hexadecyl-N** alpha -glutaryl-L-cysteinamide (AM multiplied by (times) Cys-1) has an ability to form anionic micelles in aqueous media. The catalytic activity of AM multiplied by (times) Cys-1 was compared with that of another synthetic surfactant, N-hexadecanoyl-L-cysteine (AM multiplied by (times) Cys-2). These surfactants below their critical micelle concentations markedly accelerated the degradation of several p-nitrophenyl carboxylates. On the contrary, the concentration-rate profiles for the degradation of p-nitrophenyl dodecanoate (PNPL) as catalyzed by the surfactants indicate that the reactivity of the mercapto group is reduced upon formation of the anionic micelles.