CALCULATED RATES AND EQUILIBRIA OF THERMAL INTERCONVERSION OF TRIPLET (3g-) AND SINGLET (1Δg and g+) MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Abstract— From spectroscopic data and rate constants in the literature, equilibrium constants and rates of thermal formation of singlet oxygen (¹Δ_g and ¹Σ_g⁺) were calculated for a number of conditions. For the gas phase we estimate K _eq(¹Δ_g³Σ_g^-) = 1.67 exp(-94.31 KJ/RT) and K _eq(¹Σ_g⁺/³Σ_g^-) = 0.33 exp(-157.0 KJ/RT). The calculated rate constants for the ³Σ_g⁺→¹Δ_g transition of O₂ at 25°C varied from 2.5 × 10^-11 s^-1 in water to 4.8 × 10^-16 s^-1 in air, assuming equal solvent interactions with the ground and excited states. Physical quenchers for singlet oxygen are expected to be catalysts for its thermal formation. Equations are presented which allow one to estimate whether such catalysis by quenchers will result in a pro-oxidant effect.