
- P-ISSN 1225-0163
- E-ISSN 2288-8985
The reactivity of superoxide ion(<TEX>$O{_2}^{-.}$</TEX>) with halogenated substrates is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and rotated ring-disk electrode method in aprotic solvents. The more positive the reduction potential of the substituted nitrile, the more facile is nucleophilic displacement by <TEX>$O{_2}^{-.}$</TEX>. The reaction rates of halogenonitriles with <TEX>$O{_2}^{-.}$</TEX> vary according to the leaving-group propensity of halide (Br>Cl>F). The relative reaction rates of other substituted nitriles are in the order of electron-withdrawing propensity of the substituent group (CN> <TEX>$C(O)NH_2$</TEX> >Ph, <TEX>$CH_2CN$</TEX>). The reaction of <TEX>$O{_2}^{-.}$</TEX> with dihalocarbons indicates that five-membered rings can be rapidly formed by the cyclization of substrate and <TEX>$O{_2}^{-.}$</TEX>, and the relative rates of cyclization depend on the number of methylenic carbons {<TEX>$Br(CH_2)_nBr$</TEX>, [n