Patent ID: 8147792

Claim:
A method comprising: generating a stable superoxide ion in a deep eutectic solvent (DES) or mixture of DESs, the generating comprising (a) electrochemically reducing oxygen in the DES(s), or (b) chemically dissolving Group 1 alkali metal superoxides or dissolving Group 2 alkaline earth metal superoxides in the DES(s); and wherein the DES or mixture of DESs has a freezing point of up to 100° C. and is a mixture of two or more compound formed by mixing of at least one amine salt of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + X − (I) with at least one organic compound (II) which is capable of forming a hydrogen bond with X − , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each independently: H, optionally substituted C 1 to C 5 alkyl, optionally substituted C 6 to C 10 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C 6 to C 12 aryl, optionally substituted C 7 to C 12 alkaryl, or wherein R 1 and R 2 taken together represent a C 4 to C 10 optionally substituted alkylene group, wherein the term “substituted” means that a group is substituted with at least one or more groups selected from OH, SH, SR 5 , Cl, Br, F, I, NH 2 , CN, NO 2 , COOR 5 , CHO, COR 5 or OR 5 , wherein R 5 is a C 1 to C 10 alkyl or cycloalkyl group, and wherein the molar ratio of I to II is from 1:1.5 to 1:2.5.