Rate constants for the reaction of ethyl bromoacetate with three series of substituted naphthoate ions have been measured in an acetone-water mixture (90% v/v). Using σ_p values rate constants at 30^o correlate well with the Hammett equation yielding ρ=−0.54, −0.19 and −0.25 for (4,1−), (6,1−) and (6,2−) series, respectively. Comparison of these ρ values with those of the reaction of phenacyl bromide reveals the failure of the reactivity-selectivity principle RSP in these reactions. Failure of RSP has been explained in terms of isoselective temperature.

Substituent induced¹³C NMR chemical shifts of side chain carbonyl carbons of several 4-substituted 1-naphthamides have been measured in DMSO-d₆ solvent. Analysis of the substituent induced chemical shifts by the DSP equation gave the regression equation. Both {ie207-1} and {ie207-2} values were negative. The negative sign on {ie207-3} term indicates the operation of a reverse substituent effect and that π-polarisation is the important mechanism for the transmission of substituent effects by inductive effect. Theperi-hydrogen interaction in naphthamides forces the amide group out of the plane of the naphthalene ring.