Phenyl [(R)-16O,17O,18O]sulphate was synthesized and used to study the stereochemical course of sulphuryl transfer to p-cresol catalysed by arylsulphatase II from Aspergillus oryzae. The reaction was shown to proceed with retention of configuration at the sulphur atom, providing evidence for the involvement of a sulpho-enzyme intermediate on the reaction pathway.
