Abstract. In the present investigation, we have measured the secondary kinetic deuterium isotope effects in hydroxylamine addition reaction for a series of cyclohexanones, both hindered and unhindered. We observed a slightly direct isotope effect, k H / k D > 1.00, for unhindered cyclohexanones and an inverse isotope effect, k H / k D < 1.00, for hindered cyclohexanones; this inversion of the isotope effects is attributed to a decrease of the torsional strain through the intervention of an "effet sterique de compression" that induce a slight deformation of the cycle and changes the angle of approach of the nucleophile.