Rates, activation parameters, and kinetic a-deuterium isotope effects are reported for solvolysis ofp-methylbenzyl chloride in 80% trifluoroethanol-water, and in ethanol-water and I-butyl alcohol-water of varying solvent compositions. The a-deuterium isotope effect in trifluoroethanol-water (kH/kD = 1.14 per D) indicates approximately limiting behavior. Results in the other solvents (kH/kD = 1.04-1.08) indicate considerable nucleophilic participation by solvent in the transition state. 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzyl chloride gave kH/kD = 1.09 in 80% ethanol-water but kH/kD = 1.16 in 80% trifluoroethanol-water. 2,4,6-Tri-I-butylbenzyl chloride showed kH/kD effects of 1.13-1 .I5 in I-butyl alcohol-water and 1.15-1.16 in ethanol-water. The higher kinetic isotope effects for solvolysis of these trialkylbenzyl chlorides are discussed in terms of steric hindrance to nucleophilic participation by solvent. N.m.r. chemical shifts give evidence for steric compression of the benzylic protons in 2,4,6-tri-I-butylbenzyl chlorides.Les vitesses, les parametres d'activation, et les effets isotopiques sur la cinetique du deuttrium a sont rapportis pour la solvolyse du p-m6thylbenzyle chlorure dans les systkmes trifluoroethanol 80%-eau et ethanol-eau, I-butanol-eau de compositions variables. L'effet isotopique de deuterium a dans le trifluorokthanol-eau (kH/kD = 1.14 par D) correspond approximativement a un comportement limite. Les resultats dans les autres solvants (kH/kD =