The cross sections and transverse spin asymmetries in the hard exclusive electroproduction of decuplet baryons are calculated in the large $N_c$ limit and found to be comparable to that of octet baryons. Large $N_c$ selection rules for the production amplitudes are derived, leading to new sensitive tests of the spin aspects of the QCD chiral dynamics both in the nonstrange and strange sectors. Importance of such studies for the reliable extraction of the pion form factor from pion electroproduction is explained.

• Received 16 November 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2589