Nitrenium ions in N-chloro-α-amino acids decomposition?

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/kin.550250102

This article deals with the kinetics of decomposition of four isomers: N - Cl-(L)-2-Aminohexanoic acid, N - Cl-(L)-Leucine, N - Cl-(L)-Isoleucine, and N - Cl-(L)-tert-Leucine, in mild acid and basic aqueous solution. An alternative mechanism for this process which takes place through a nitrenium-like ion transition state is proposed. This mechanism is in consonance with the experimental data and with those available from the literature.