Equilibrium acidities of some sulfones and sulfoxides in tetrahydrofuran

Ion pair acidities are reported in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution for the lithium and cesium salts of several sulfones and one sulfoxide. These salts are shown to be monomeric in the THF solutions studied. Thermodynamic constants are reported for several salts. The results and some conductivity studies show that both the lithium and cesium salts are contact ion pairs in THF. Because of ion association the relative pKs are slightly lower for cesium salts and much lower for lithium salts than fbr the free ions in DMSO solution. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.