| Abstract: | Abstract— The absorption, fluorescence, and chemiluminescence (CL) characteristics of luminol have been studied in basic dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and various basic DMSO — water mixed solvents. It has been shown that the luminol dianion can be produced quantitatively in carefully deoxygenated ‘dry’ DMSO using potassium t-butyl alcoholate (BTO) as the base. A direct correlation has been found between the intensity of CL and the concentration of luminol dianion, Indicating that the dianion is the reactive species in the chemiluminescent reaction in DMSO. Increasing concentrations of water in the mixed solvents greatly reduced the CL intensity because of the decrease in luminol dianion concentration. Solvent effects on the fluorescence of 3-aminophthalic acid samples was noted and identified. Chemiluminescent spectra of luminol were run as a function of solvent composition, and compared with fluorescence spectra in the same media. The need for correcting these spectra for comparison was noted. Stopped flow kinetic studies were run in DMSO and DMSO-water mixtures. These data can be interpreted on the basis of two second-order steps and one first-order step in the reaction. The first-order step is probably last and probably arises from decomposition of a ‘peroxy’ intermediate. The rate constant for this step is k= 1·2±0·3×10-1 sec-1. |
