1H NMR results are reported for the reactions of hydroxymethanesulfonate, 1, with aniline and its derivatives to produce anilinomethanesulfonates, 3. The mechanism of the reaction involves dissociation of 1 to produce formaldehyde, as a steady state intermediate, which reacts with aniline to give a carbinolamine; subsequent dehydration and reaction with sulfite produces the product. The kinetics of individual steps have been investigated. The release ...