Abstract: The following PKR values for the formation of benzyl, benzhydryl, and fluorenyl carbocations in 5050 (v: v) trifluoroethanol/water at I= 0.50 (NaC10,) were determined as PKR=-log (kHOH [H20]/kH), where kH is the second-order rate constant for acid-catalyzed reaction of the alcohol to form the carbocation and kHoH is the second-order rate constant for capture of the carbocation by water:(R', PKR); PhCH2+, 5-20; PhCH (Me)+,-15.4; PhC ( ...