Hydron exchange rates, kexc (M−1s−1), using methanolic sodium methoxide were compared with ΔG°Acid, (kcal mol−1) (gas phase) for 9-phenylfluorene, C6H5CH(CF3)2, m-CF3C6H4CH(CF3)2, p-CF3C6H4CHClCF3, m-CF3C6H4CHClCF3, 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3CHClCF3, fluorene and C6F5H. There is a good linear correlation for p-CF3C6H4CHClCF3, m-CF3C6H4CHClCF3 and 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3CHClCF3, with the others falling off the line. The fluorinated benzyl compounds and pentafluorobenzene have near-unity isotope effects and therefore differ from the fluorenyl compounds. Although the acidity and the exchange rates for three of the compounds [9-phenylfluorene, C6H5CH(CF3)2 and p-CF3C6H4CHClCF3] are similar, the important proton-transfer step to form a hydrogen-bonded carbanion intermediate and the subsequent breaking of that weak bond to form a free carbanion in methanol differ significantly for the fluoernyl compound compared with the two fluorinated benzylic compounds. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.