The action of carboxypeptidase B (EC 3.4.12.3) on the benzoylglycyl dipeptides Bz-Gly-Lys(X) where X = methyl, ethyl, propyl, formyl, dimethyl, isopropyl, trimethyl, and benzyl has been investigated. All were hydrolyzed, at a rate decreasing in the order indicated, except where X = trimethyl and benzyl. Compounds where X = dimethyl, formyl, and isopropyl were hydrolyzed very slowly, and did not inhibit the hydrolysis of Bz-Gly-Lys by the enzyme. The kinetic parameters kcat and Km were determined for compounds with X = methyl and ethyl. The observed decrease in rate of hydrolysis of substrates with increasing size of X is consistent with increasing steric hindrance effects arising from the interaction of the Nε-alkyl group with residues of the protein in the cleft which accommodates the substrate side-chain, and resulting in weaker binding of the substrate.Bz-Gly-Lys(Me2) was prepared by reductive methylation of Bz-Gly-Lys. Bz-Gly-Lys(Me3) was prepared by the reaction of Bz-Gly-Lys(Me2) with diazomethane in aqueous solution. Bz-Gly-Lys(Me) and Bz-Gly-Lys(Et) were synthesized by classical coupling procedures from the appropriately protected lysine derivatives.