Azide mechanisms for the production of NCl metastables

The production of both the b¹Σ⁺ and a¹Δ states of NCl has been observed from the reaction of HN₃ with flowing streams of Cl and F atoms. The results suggest that a two-step reaction sequence is responsible for the production of excited NCl, as follows: The rate contant (all products) for the first step is k(F + HN₃) > 1 × 10^?11 cm³/molecule sec. Comparison of this value to results obtained in a previous study of the F + HN₃ system yields a value k(F + N₃) = 2 × 10^?12 cm³/molecule sec. The rate constant for the reaction of chlorine atoms with HN₃ was determined to be k(Cl + HN₃) 1 × 10^?12 cm³/molecule sec. The difference between the Cl + HN₃ and F + HN₃ rates is interpreted in terms of an addition–elimination mechanism.     

Substitution of azide atNNN″N″-tetraethyldiethylenetriaminechlorogold-(III) in binary aqueous solvent mixtures

Summary Rate constants are reported and discussed for the reaction of [Au(Et₄dien)Cl]²⁺ with HN₃ (pH = 1) and of [Au(Et₄dien-H)Cl]⁺ with N ₃ ^– (pH = 7) in several binary aqueous solvent mixtures.     

Studies on the reaction N + N3 → N2(B 3Πg) + N2(X 1Σ+g)

Strongly enhanced N₂ first positive emission N₂(B ³Π_g → A ³Σ⁺_u) has been observed on addition of N atoms into a flowing mixture of Cl and HN₃. The dependence of the emission intensity on N atom concentration gave a rate constant for the reaction N + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) of _i(1.6 ± 1.1) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. That for the reaction Cl + HN₃ → HCl + N₃ is (8.9 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 from the decay of the emission. Comparison of the emission intensity in ClHN₃ with that in ClHN₃N gave the rate constant of the reaction N₃ + N₃ → N₂(B ³Π_g) + 2N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g) as 1.4 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 on the assumption that N + N₃ yields only N₂(B ³Π_g) + N₂(X ¹Σ⁺_g).     

Equilibrium Study on Ion-Pair Formation in Water and Distribution Between Water and m-Xylene of Tetraalkylammonium Picrates

The 1:1 ion-pair formation constants (K _IP) of tetraalkylammonium (Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, Pr₄N⁺, Bu₄N⁺, and Bu₃MeN⁺) picrates in water were determined by capillary electrophoresis at 25°C. The ion-pair extraction constants (K _ex,ip) of the picrates from water to m-xylene were determined by a batch-extraction method at 25°C, and the distribution constants (K _D) of the neutral ion-pairs were calculated from the relationship K _D = K_ex,ip/K _IP. The tetraalkylammonium ion having more methylene groups generally forms a slightly more stable ion-pair with the picrate ion in water, which is attributed to the lower hydration of the cation. For Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, Pr₄N⁺, and Bu₄N⁺, the distribution of the ion pair into m-xylene increases in that order, and a linear relationship was found between log K _D and the number of methylene groups in the cation. This is consistently explained by the regular solution theory. It was also revealed that the ion pairs have a strong specific interaction with water. The ion pair of Bu₃MeN⁺ has a higher distribution constant than that expected from the relationship between log K _D and the number of methylene groups for the symmetrical tetraalkylammonium ions. The cation dependence of the ion pair extractability is mostly governed by that of the distribution of the ion pair.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of monochloramine by hydroxylamine and hydroxylammonium ion

The kinetics and mechanism by which monochloramine is reduced by hydroxylamine in aqueous solution over the pH range of 5–8 are reported. The reaction proceeds via two different mechanisms depending upon whether the hydroxylamine is protonated or unprotonated. When the hydroxylamine is protonated, the reaction stoichiometry is 1:1. The reaction stoichiometry becomes 3:1 (hydroxylamine:monochloramine) when the hydroxylamine is unprotonated. The principle products under both conditions are Cl^–, NH⁺₄, and N₂O. The rate law is given by ?[d[NH₂Cl]/dt] = k₊[NH₃OH⁺][NH₂Cl] + k₀[NH₂OH][NH₂Cl]. At an ionic strength of 1.2 M, at 25°C, and under pseudo‐first‐order conditions, k₊= (1.03 ± 0.06) ×10³ L · mol^?1 · s^?1 and k₀=91 ± 15 L · mol^?1 · s^?1. Isotopic studies demonstrate that both nitrogen atoms in the N₂O come from the NH₂OH/NH₃OH⁺. Activation parameters for the reaction determined at pH 5.1 and 8.0 at an ionic strength of 1.2 M were found to be ΔH? = 36 ± 3 kJ · mol^–1 and Δ S? = ?66 ± 9 J · K^?1 · mol^?1, and Δ H? = 12 ± 2 kJ · mol^?1 and Δ S? = ?168 ± 6 J · K^?1 · mol^?1, respectively, and confirm that the transition states are significantly different for the two reaction pathways. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 124–135, 2006     

Der Einfluß der Kationen alkalischer Elektrolyte auf die Geschwindigkeit der kathodischen Sauerstoffreduktion an Platin

The dependence of the rate of the oxygen reduction on the nature of cations [Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, (CH₃)₄N⁺] is studied at smooth platinum and porous carbon loaded with a platinum catalyst in alkaline solutions.The rest potentials are shifted to more negative values from Li⁺ to (CH₃)₄N⁺, likewise the cathodic polarization is increased with the size of the cations. A change of the potential drop within the diffuse double layer caused by increasing cation concentration with growing size of ions is of minor importance in 0.5N alkaline solutions. Specific adsorption of (Rb⁺), Cs⁺ and (CH₃)₄N⁺ has to be considered, which would give rise to a decrease of the rate of the electrochemical reaction.Secondly the observed effect can be attributed to ion pairing of charged species (O₂ ^–) involved in the overall reaction and the cations. The stability of the hyperoxide ion is increased from (CH₃)₄N⁺ to Li⁺ by interaction with the cations. Consequently the velocity of the rate determining charge transfer step is accelerated in this direction.The experimental findings are in favour of the second interpretation, because the effect is not enhanced in more dilute solutions.

---

---

Mit 7 Abbildungen     

Ion‐Pair SN2 Substitution: Activation Strain Analyses of Counter‐Ion and Solvent Effects

The ion‐pair S_N2 reactions of model systems M_nF^n?1+CH₃Cl (M⁺=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and MgCl⁺; n=0, 1) have been quantum chemically explored by using DFT at the OLYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level. The purpose of this study is threefold: 1) to elucidate how the counterion M⁺ modifies ion‐pair S_N2 reactivity relative to the parent reaction F^?+CH₃Cl; 2) to determine how this influences stereochemical competition between the backside and frontside attacks; and 3) to examine the effect of solvation on these ion‐pair S_N2 pathways. Trends in reactivity are analyzed and explained by using the activation strain model (ASM) of chemical reactivity. The ASM has been extended to treat reactivity in solution. These findings contribute to a more rational design of tailor‐made substitution reactions.     

Quantification of Ion‐Pairing Effects on the Nucleophilic Reactivities of Benzoyl‐ and Phenyl‐Substituted Carbanions in Dimethylsulfoxide

Second‐order rate constants for the reactions of acceptor‐substituted phenacyl (PhCO?CH^??Acc) and benzyl anions (Ph?CH^??Acc) with diarylcarbenium ions and quinone methides (reference electrophiles) have been determined in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution at 20 °C. By studying the kinetics in the presence of variable concentrations of potassium, sodium and lithium salts (up to 10^?2 mol L^?1), the influence of ion‐pairing on the reaction rates was examined. As the concentration of K⁺ did not have any influence on the rate constants at carbanion concentrations in the range of 10^?4–10^?3 mol L^?1, the acquired rate constants could be assigned to the reactivities of the free carbanions. The counter ion effects increase, however, in the series K⁺<Na⁺<Li⁺, and the sensitivity of the carbanion reactivities toward variation of the counter ion strongly depends on the structure of the carbanions. The reactivity parameters N and s_N of the free carbanions were derived from the linear plots of log k₂ against the electrophilicity parameters E of the reference electrophiles, according to the linear‐free energy relationship log k₂(20 °C)=s_N(N+E). These reactivity parameters can be used to predict absolute rate constants for the reactions of these carbanions with other electrophiles of known E parameters.     

The reactions of atomic hydrogen and active nitrogen with hydrogen azide

Detection of atoms by mass spectrometry has been used to study the reactions of hydrogen azide, HN₃, with H atoms and active nitrogen, in a fast flow reactor at pressures of about 1 torr. Stoichiometry and products of the H + HN₃ reaction have been determined and the rate constant of the initial step, assumed to be H + HN₃ → NH₂ + N₂, was found to be 2.54 × 10^?11 exp (?4600/RT) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, in the temperature range of 300–460K. The formation of NH₃ and H₂ products has been discussed from the different secondary steps which may occur in the mechanism. For the reaction of active nitrogen with HN₃, evidence has been found for the participation of excited nitrogen molecules produced by a microwave discharge through molecular nitrogen. The influence of excited nitrogen molecules has been reduced by lowering the gas flow velocity. It was then possible to study the N + HN₃ reaction for which the rate constant of the initial step was found to be 4.9 × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at room temperature. Finally, the occurrence of these elementary reactions has been discussed in the mechanism of the decomposition flame of HN₃.     

Stability constants of the Li+, Na+, H3O+, NH4+, Ag+, and K+ complexes of the cone conformer of tetraethyl p-tert-butyltetrathiacalix[4]arene tetraacetate in nitrobenzene saturated with water

Abstract  

From extraction experiments in the two-phase water–nitrobenzene system and γ-activity measurements, the stability constants of the tetraethyl p-tert-butyltetrathiacalix[4]arene tetraacetate (cone)·M⁺ complexes (M⁺ = Li⁺, H₃O⁺, NH₄ ⁺, Ag⁺, or K⁺) were determined in water-saturated nitrobenzene. It was found that these constants increase in the cation order NH₄ ⁺ < K⁺ < H₃O⁺ < Ag⁺ < Li⁺ < Na⁺.     

The cation binding of benzo crown ethers in acetonitrile using fluorescence spectroscopy

The effects of Na⁺, K⁺ and Li⁺ cations on the fluorescence spectra of benzo[15]crown-5, benzo[18]crown-6 and dibenzo[18]crown-6 were investigated in acetonitrile. The alkali cation role observed was usually the complexation-enhanced quenching fluorescence effect (CEQF) in acetonitrile due to the increased fluorescence quenching rate of the complexed fluoroionophore. The association constants for 1 :1 stoichiometry InK _a have been obtained using the relationship 1/K _a[L ₀] = (1 –P)²/P. It was shown that the preferential interaction rule of compatibility of cationic radii and macrocyclic ring size is in excellent agreement with the association constants obtained by fluorescence spectroscopy. The order of InK _a found for benzo[15]crown-5 complexation was Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ and K⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺ for benzo[18]crown-6 in acetonitrile.Presented at the Sixth International Seminar on Inclusion Compounds, Istanbul, Turkey, 27–31 August, 1995.     

Production of electronically excited NF by the reaction of fluorine atoms with HN3

Electronically excited NF in both the a¹Δ and b ¹Σ⁺ states hasbeen observed from the reaction of fluorine atoms with HN₃. The results suggest that fluorine atoms first abstract the hydrogen atom from HN₃, then react with the remaining N₃ to form NF^≠(a¹Δ). NF^*(b¹Σ⁺) is produced by a subsequent energy pooling reaction between NF^≠(a¹Δ) and vibrationally excited HF. The rate of the F + N₃ reaction is estimated to be ≈ 10¹² and ³ mole^?1 s^?1.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the anionic polymerization of cyclohexadienes initiated by naphthalene radical anions and dianions

The anionic polymerization of 1.3-cyclohexadiene (1.3-CHD) was investigated in temperatures that ranged from 25 to ?77°C. Initiation by lithium naphthalene (N^?·,Li⁺) in tetrahydrofuran at ?20°C yields polymers with fairly narrow molecular weight distribution. The M?_w of these polymers so prepared is ca. 20,000. Polymerization of 1.3-CHD conducted at room temperature is accompanied by the dehydrogenation and disproportionation of the monomer, especially when N^?·,K⁺ acts as initiator. Oligomers are formed when hexamethylphosphoramide is used as a solvent. The mechanism of the initiation of the polymerization of 1.3-CHD by N^?·,Li⁺ was elucidated and the rate constants at ?20°C in tetrahydrofuran of the elementary reactions were determined. It was established that the dianions formed by disproportionation of N^?·,Li⁺ act as effective initiators for 1.3-CHD. The adducts formed constitute the cyclohexanyl and naphthyl carbanionic groups. The former carbanions (λ_max ～ 275 nm) propagate the polymerization. The initially formed dimeric adducts are stabilized by the separation of the carbanionic end groups by the additional monomer units. Chain transfer to the monomer limits the growth of the polymers. The isomerization of the cyclohexadienyl anions, formed as result of chain transfer, may be followed by the elimination of lithium hydride. The latter reaction represents a termination step. Addition of 1.4-CHD to the reaction mixture enhances the chain transfer and the termination.     

Specific ion-molecule interactions of imidazole and 1-methylimidazole in nitrobenzene

We have studied, by conductivity measurements, the formation of hydrogenbonded complexes between imidazoles and ions in the three systems triethylammonium picrate (Et₃NHPic)+imidazole (Im), triethylammonium bromide (Et₃NHBr)+Im, and Et₃NHPic+1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm) in nitrobenzene in order to specify the importance of the two functions of the imidazole molecule, the tertiary nitrogen N₃, and the imino group N₁-H. While 1-MelIm forms only a single complex with the cationic species Et₃NH⁺, imidazole enters into specific interactions as well with the cations through its basic site N₃ and with the anions through its imino group. The complexing of the anions by imidazole, always weaker than the complexing of the cations, is more effective for Br^– than for Pic^–. Moreover, if imidazole is used as ligand, a 1:2 complex is formed between the cation and the imidazole, in which the second molecule of imidazole is bonded to the N-H group of the first by a hydrogen bond at the tertiary N atom. We did not observe a correlation between the equilibrium constants K ₁ ⁺ for the complexing of the cation Et₃NH⁺ by imidazole and pyridines (k ₁ ⁺ for pyridine, 3–4 dimethylpyridine, and imidazole are 8, 24, and 165, respectively) and the pK _a values of these ligands due to the fundamental difference in the structure of the imidazole and pyridine molecules, although both are considered as aromatic nitrogen bases.     

FN+Cl Ions from Ionized F2NCl: a Computational Investigation on the Structure and Reactivity toward H2O

We have used various ab initio methods and basis sets to ascertain that the FN⁺Cl cation has a singlet ground state, ¹A′, which is more stable than the triplet state ³A″ by ca. 30 kcal mol^?1. We have subsequently used the Gaussian‐3 (G3) theory to explore the potential‐energy profile for the reaction between singlet FN⁺Cl and H₂O. The process commences by the effortless formation of a FN⁺Cl/H₂O complex, which, in principle, can undergo several alternative processes, including isomerization to N‐protonated FN(Cl)OH, 1,2‐elimination of HX (X=F or Cl), and 1,1‐loss of H₂. However, the energy barriers of all these processes are invariably larger than the energy (+18.1 kcal mol^?1) required for the formation of FN⁺Cl/H₂O from FN⁺Cl and H₂O, thus suggesting that, under gas‐phase thermal conditions, FN⁺Cl should be essentially unreactive toward H₂O. Comparing these theoretical findings with those concerning the reaction between FN⁺H, ClN⁺H, F₂N⁺, and H₂O, the reactivity order FN⁺H>F₂N⁺>ClN⁺H>FN⁺Cl, was derived, which parallels the trend we recently found by G2MS calculations concerning the Lewis acidity of these ions. This suggests the conceivable occurrence of correlations between the reactivity and thermochemical properties of these simple halonitrenium ions.     

Ion‐Pair SN2 Reaction of OH− and CH3Cl: Activation Strain Analyses of Counterion and Solvent Effects

We have theoretically studied the non‐identity S_N2 reactions of M_nOH^(n?1)+CH₃Cl (M⁺=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and MgCl⁺; n=0, 1) in the gas phase and in THF solution at the OLYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level using polarizable continuum model (PCM) implicit solvation. We want to explore and understand the effect of the metal counterion M⁺ and solvation on the reaction profile and the stereoselectivity of these processes. To this end, we have explored the potential energy surfaces of the backside (S_N2‐b) and frontside (S_N2‐f) pathways. To explain the computed trends, we have carried out analyses with an extended activation strain model (ASM) of chemical reactivity that includes the treatment of solvation effects.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the substitution reactions of some monofunctional Pd(II) complexes with different nitrogen-donor heterocycles

Substitution reactions of five monofunctional Pd(II) complexes, [Pd(terpy)Cl]⁺ (terpy = 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine), [Pd(bpma)Cl]⁺ (bpma = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), [Pd(dien)Cl]⁺ (dien = diethylenetriamine or 1,5-diamino-3-azapentane), [Pd(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ (Me₄dien = 1,1,7,7-tetramethyldiethylenetriamine), and [Pd(Et₄dien)Cl]⁺ (Et₄dien = 1,1,7,7-tetraethyldiethylenetriamine), with unsaturated N-heterocycles such as 3-amino-4-iodo-pyrazole (pzI), 5-amino-4-bromo-3-methyl-pyrazole (pzBr), 1,2,4-triazole, pyrazole, pyrazine, and imidazole were investigated in aqueous 0.10 M NaClO₄ in the presence of 10 mM NaCl using variable-temperature stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The second-order rate constants k₂ indicate that the reactivity of the Pd(II) complexes decrease in the order [Pd(terpy)Cl]⁺ > [Pd(bpma)Cl]⁺ > [Pd(dien)Cl]⁺ > [Pd(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ > [Pd(Et₄dien)Cl]⁺. The most reactive nucleophile of the heterocycles is pyrazine, while the slowest reactivity is with pyrazole. Activation parameters were determined for all reactions and negative entropies of activation, ΔS^≠, supporting an associative mode of substitution. The reactions between [Pd(bpma)Cl]⁺ and 1,2,4-triazole, pzI, and pzBr were also investigated by ¹H NMR to define the manner of coordination. These results could be useful for better explanation of structure-reactivity relationships of Pd(II) complexes as well as for the prediction of potential targets of Pd(II) complexes toward common N-heterocycles, constituents of biomolecules and different N-bonding pharmaceutical agents.     

Succinic,fumaric, adipic and oxalic acid cocrystals of promethazine hydrochloride

Novel cocrystals of promethazine hydrochloride [PTZ‐Cl; systematic name: N,N‐dimethyl‐1‐(10H‐phenothiazin‐10‐yl)propan‐2‐aminium chloride] with succinic acid (PTZ‐Cl‐succinic, C₁₇H₂₁N₂S⁺·Cl^?·0.5C₄H₆O₄), fumaric acid (PTZ‐Cl‐fumaric, C₁₇H₂₁N₂S⁺·Cl^?·0.5C₄H₄O₄) and adipic acid (PTZ‐Cl‐adipic, C₁₇H₂₁N₂S⁺·Cl^?·0.5C₆H₁₀O₄) were prepared by solvent drop grinding and slow evaporation from acetonitrile solution, along with two oxalic acid cocrystals which were prepared in tetrahydrofuran (the oxalic acid hemisolvate, PTZ‐Cl‐oxalic, C₁₇H₂₁N₂S⁺·Cl^?·0.5C₂H₂O₄) and nitromethane (the hydrogen oxalate salt, PTZ‐oxalic, C₁₇H₂₁N₂S⁺·C₂HO₄^?). The crystal structures obtained by crystallization from tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile include the Cl^? ion in the lattice structures, while the Cl^? ion is missing from the crystal structure obtained by crystallization from nitromethane (PTZ‐oxalic). In order to explain the formation of the two types of supramolecular configurations with oxalic acid, the intermolecular interaction energies were calculated in the presence of the two solvents and the equilibrium configurations were determined using density functional theory (DFT). The cocrystals were studied by X‐ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Additionally, a stability test under special conditions and water solubility were also investigated. PTZ‐Cl‐succinic, PTZ‐Cl‐fumaric and PTZ‐Cl‐adipic crystallized having similar lattice parameter values, and showed a 2:1 PTZ‐Cl to dicarboxylic acid stoichiometry. PTZ‐Cl‐oxalic crystallized in a 2:1 stoichiometric ratio, while the structure lacking the Cl atom belongs has a 1:1 stoichiometry. All the obtained crystals exhibit hydrogen bonds of the type PTZ…Cl…(dicarboxylic acid)…Cl…PTZ, except for PTZ‐oxalic, which forms bifurcated bonds between the hydrogen oxalate and promethazinium ions, along with an infinite hydrogen‐bonded chain between the hydrogen oxalate anions.     

Gutmann's Donor Numbers Correctly Assess the Effect of the Solvent on the Kinetics of SNAr Reactions in Ionic Liquids

We report an experimental study on the effect of solvents on the model S_NAr reaction between 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and morpholine in a series of pure ionic liquids (IL). A significant catalytic effect is observed with reference to the same reaction run in water, acetonitrile, and other conventional solvents. The series of IL considered include the anions, NTf₂^?, DCN^?, SCN^?, CF₃SO₃^?, PF₆^?, and FAP^? with the series of cations 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium ([BMIM]⁺), 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium ([EMIM]⁺), 1‐butyl‐2,3‐dimethyl‐imidazolium ([BM₂IM]⁺), and 1‐butyl‐1‐methyl‐pyrrolidinium ([BMPyr]⁺). The observed solvent effects can be attributed to an “anion effect”. The anion effect appears related to the anion size (polarizability) and their hydrogen‐bonding (HB) abilities to the substrate. These results have been confirmed by performing a comparison of the rate constants with Gutmann's donicity numbers (DNs). The good correlation between rate constants and DN emphasizes the major role of charge transfer from the anion to the substrate.     

The Reaction of Ozone with the Hydroxide Ion: Mechanistic Considerations Based on Thermokinetic and Quantum Chemical Calculations and the Role of HO4− in Superoxide Dismutation

The reaction of OH^? with O₃ eventually leads to the formation of ^.OH radicals. In the original mechanistic concept (J. Staehelin, J. Hoigné, Environ. Sci. Technol. 1982 , 16, 676–681), it was suggested that the first step occurred by O transfer: OH^?+O₃→HO₂^?+O₂ and that ^.OH was generated in the subsequent reaction(s) of HO₂^? with O₃ (the peroxone process). This mechanistic concept has now been revised on the basis of thermokinetic and quantum chemical calculations. A one‐step O transfer such as that mentioned above would require the release of O₂ in its excited singlet state (¹O₂, O₂(¹Δ_g)); this state lies 95.5 kJ mol^?1 above the triplet ground state (³O₂, O₂(³Σ_g^?)). The low experimental rate constant of 70 M ^?1 s^?1 is not incompatible with such a reaction. However, according to our calculations, the reaction of OH^? with O₃ to form an adduct (OH^?+O₃→HO₄^?; ΔG=3.5 kJ mol^?1) is a much better candidate for the rate‐determining step as compared with the significantly more endergonic O transfer (ΔG=26.7 kJ mol^?1). Hence, we favor this reaction; all the more so as numerous precedents of similar ozone adduct formation are known in the literature. Three potential decay routes of the adduct HO₄^? have been probed: HO₄^?→HO₂^?+¹O₂ is spin allowed, but markedly endergonic (ΔG=23.2 kJ mol^?1). HO₄^?→HO₂^?+³O₂ is spin forbidden (ΔG=?73.3 kJ mol^?1). The decay into radicals, HO₄^?→HO₂^.+O₂^.?, is spin allowed and less endergonic (ΔG=14.8 kJ mol^?1) than HO₄^?→HO₂^?+¹O₂. It is thus HO₄^?→HO₂^.+O₂^.? by which HO₄^? decays. It is noted that a large contribution of the reverse of this reaction, HO₂^.+O₂^.?→HO₄^?, followed by HO₄^?→HO₂^?+³O₂, now explains why the measured rate of the bimolecular decay of HO₂^. and O₂^.? into HO₂^?+O₂ (k=1×10⁸ M ^?1 s^?1) is below diffusion controlled. Because k for the process HO₄^?→HO₂^.+O₂^.? is much larger than k for the reverse of OH^?+O₃→HO₄^?, the forward reaction OH^?+O₃→HO₄^? is practically irreversible.