The slow protonation rates we have observed suggest that proton transfers could be rate-determining in the action of oxo-bridged ... (16) Espenson, J. H. Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms; McGraw-Hill: New York, NY, 1981; p 67. (17) Kolthoff, 1. M.; Bruckenstein, S.; Chantooni, MK J. Am. Chem. SOC. 1961,83, 3927. (18) The pK, is calculated from the spectrophotometrically measured equilibrium constant for 3 + lutidinium + 3H+ + lutidine as in ref 8b. (19) pK, = ...