CHEMIEXCITATION IN THE PEROXIDATIVE METABOLISM OF N- METHYLCARBAZOLE: MECHANISTIC IMPLICATIONS

Abstract –The peroxidative metabolism of TV-methylcarbazole emits light independently of the presence of oxygen. It is likely that two chemiexcited transients are formed by electron transfer to the activated peroxidase, the cation radical by one electron transfer and a cation biradical by two electron transfer consistent with the failure to observe horseradish peroxidase-II in the steady state of the reaction. In the spectral range investigated (390–700 nm) the observed emission (570–700 nm) is ascribed to the biradical, as the latter is equivalent to an excited state of the postulated iminium cation.
While lipoxygenase has no effect upon JV-methylcarbazole, it markedly enhances the emission if peroxidase is present. This effect requires oxygen and is ascribed to an excited product formed by lipoxygenase acting upon an intermediate hydroperoxide of the aerobic process promoted by peroxidase.