The intramolecular aminolysis of Phe-Pro-p-nitroaniline (Phe-Pro-pNA) to Phe-Pro-diketopiperazine (Phe-Pro-DKP) was studied as a function of pH, temperature, buffer concentration, and buffer species using an HPLC assay that permits simultaneous analysis of the disappearance of the starting material and the appearance of degradation products. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and showed significant dependence on pH. Phosphate (pH 5-8) and glycine (pH 9-10) buffers exhibit general base catalysis. The pH-rate profile suggested that the rate of Phe-Pro-DKP formation depends on the degree of ionization of the N-terminal amino group, with the unprotonated reactant being more reactive than the protonated form. The pKa value of 6.1, determined kinetically, and three microscopic rate constants were adequate to describe the shape of the pH-rate profile. In the pH range studied, Phe-Pro-DKP was the only product generated upon degradation of Phe-Pro-pNA. At pH values between 3 and 8, Phe-Pro-DKP was stable, while at pH less than 3 and greater than 8 it undergoes hydrolysis to the dipeptide, Phe-Pro-OH. Sequence inversion, a reaction normally associated with DKP formation, was not observed. The influence of primary sequence on the formation of DKP was also investigated using X-Pro-pNA analogues, where X = Gly, Ala, Val, Phe, beta-cyclohexylalanine, and Arg. Changing the amino acid preceding the proline residue had a significant effect on the rate of DKP formation at pH 7.0.