Heterocyclic compounds as catalysts in the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate

Substituted imidazoles and leaving groups known from other areas of chemistry have been tested for catalytic efficiency in the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) reaction, using bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO) as reagent. Catalytic activity was found for 1,2,4-triazole, 1-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and 4,5-dichloroimidazole, while 2-mercaptoimidazole, 2-nitroimidazole, 4-nitroimidazole, benzimidazole, benzotriazole, thiazole, o-benzoic sulfimide, phthalimide, succinimide, 2(1H)-pyridone and 1,2,3-benzotriazine-4(3H)-one yielded no detectable chemiluminescence under the conditions used. None of the tested compounds was more efficient than imidazole in catalyzing the PO-CL reaction. Spectrophotometric measurements of the catalytic breakdown of TCPO showed that an intermediate was formed with almost all catalysts, and that intermediates that were more stable or present at lower concentration led to a reduced catalytic efficiency in the PO-CL reaction of TCPO.