Kinetics and mechanism of the reactions of the superoxide ion in solutions. II. The kinetics of protonation of the superoxide ion by water and ethanol

The rate constants for the protonation of “free” (that is, solvated) superoxide ions by water and ethanol are equal to 0.5–3.5 ×10^?3M^?1·s^?1 in DMF and AN at 20º. It has been found that the protonation rates for the ion pairs of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm O}_{\rm 2}^{\overline {\rm .} }$\end{document} with the Bu₄N⁺ cation are much slower than those for “free” \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm O}_{\rm 2}^{\overline {\rm .} }$\end{document}. It is suggested that the effects of aprotic solvents on the protonation rates of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm O}_{\rm 2}^{\overline {\rm .} }$\end{document} are mainly due to the fact that the proton donors form solvated complexes of different stability in these solvents.