Via pre-equilibrium formation of the phenolate

When k-i [HS+ ] k2 [Y ], i.e. the proton transfer is another pre-equilibrium, Equation 4.20 

In buffered solutions, the term k2KsKi [S]/[SH+] is constant, so the expected overall rate law is again second order (i.e. pseudo first order in [Y ]) but the correspondence of fcQbs with mechanistic rate constants is different. Of course, if the equilibrium constant Ki is appreciable, the phenolate concentration must be taken into account in the mass balance for the total phenol, i.e. [ArOH]T [ArOH]free + [ArOH- -S] + [ArO-], whereupon the mechanistic rate equation becomes more complicated. 

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