Abstract: p-Nitrophenyl laurate at 1 XM in water forms aggregates within which the ester groups hydrolyze slowly (about lo3 less than a short-chain monomer). Salts of the general structure RNMe3+ X-disrupt or destroy the aggregates; the ester groups are thereby 'deshielded”, and the observed hydrolysis rate increases. The magnitude of the rate increase at a given salt concentration depends on R: the more hydrophobic the R group, ...