Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96678-5

This work is dealing with basic hydrolysis in water of allophanic esters as possible models of carboxybiotin. A complex mechanism is involved likely due to competition of nucleophilic attack on the two carbonyl groups of the substrate. The rate of hydrolysis is significantly increased by metallic cation (Mg⁺⁺), a specific effect which allows to consider characterization of selectivity of bond breaking between nitrogen and carboxylate group with other nucleophiles.