Second-order rate constants $(k_N)$ have been measured for reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl phenyl carbonate (2) with a series of pyridines in 80 mol % $H_2O$/20 mol % DMSO at $25.0{pm}0.1^{circ}C$ and compared with the $k_N$ values reported for the corresponding reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl benzoate (1) to investigate the effect of nonleaving group on reactivity and mechanism. The reactions of 2 result in larger $k_N$ values than those of 1. The Br${o}$nsted-type plot for the reactions of 2 exhibits a downward curvature (i.e., ${eta}2$ = 0.84 and ${eta}1$ = 0.16), which is typical for reactions reported to proceed through a stepwise mechanism with a change in rate-determining step. The $pK_a$ at the center of the Br${o}$nsted curvature, defined as $pK_a{^{circ}}$, has been found to be 8.5 and 9.5 for the reactions of 2 and 1, respectively. Dissection of $k_N$ into the microscopic rate constants (e.g., $k_1$ and $k_2/k_{-1}$ ratio) has revealed that the reactions of 2 result in larger k1 values than those of 1, indicating that PhO behaves as a stronger electron-withdrawing group than Ph. However, the $k_2/k_{-1}$ ratio has been found to be independent of the electronic nature of Ph and PhO.