19F NMR investigations of the interactions between elastase and the reversible inhibitors CF3CO-Ala3, CF3CO-Lys-Ala2 and CF3CO-Ala4 show that these peptides have a single mode of binding to the enzyme. Furthermore the results indicate that the CF3CO-group experiences the same environment in all of the reversible complexes formed with these inhibitors. This agrees with the higher affinity of these peptides for the enzyme as compared to the corresponding acetylated inhibitors and confirms our earlier hypothesis of the existence of a specific binding site for the CF3CO-group on the enzyme. The interactions between elastase and the irreversible inhibitors CF3CO-Alan chloromethyl ketone (n = 2, 3, 4, 5) and CF3CO-Lys-Ala4 chloromethyl ketone have been investigated by enzymatic measurements and 19F NMR spectroscopy. The kinetic constants k2 and KI describing the irreversible inhibition are significantly lower for all the CF3CO-peptide chloromethyl ketones with exception of CF3CO-Ala2 chloromethyl ketone, than for the corresponding acetylated ones. Moreover, 19F NMR spectroscopy enabled us to demonstrate, for the tri- and tetrapeptide derivatives, the parallel formation of reversible nonproductive enzyme.inhibitor complexes. The spectroscopic properties of these complexes are completely different from those of the irreversible complexes but are similar to those observed with the reversible complexes described above. In the case of the pentapeptide chloromethyl ketones, fast hydrolysis of the peptide or fast inactivation of the enzyme does not allow observations to be made but does not exclude the existence of reversible nonproductive complexes. In fact, their existence is strongly suggested by the enzyme reaction rate measurements. The similarity of the properties of all the reversible complexes, their striking differences with those of all the irreversible complexes, as well as their mutual exclusivity, permit the conclusion that the CF3CO-group does not bind at one of the classical S subsites of elastase.