Mechanistic alternatives phosphate monoester hydrolysis: what conclusions can be drawn from available experimental data?

Phosphate monoester hydrolysis reactions in enzymes and solution are often discussed in terms of whether the reaction pathway is associative or dissoc iative. Although experimental results for solution reactions have usually b een considered as evidence for the second alternative, a closer thermodynam ic analysis of observed linear free energy relationships shows that experim ental information is consistent with the associative, concerted and dissoci ative alternatives.