Very fast peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence

Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) detection offers an advantage in chromatographic detection, by the virtue of its multiple unique selectivities and high sensitivity. However, many of the analytical separation techniques available today require observation times in the millisecond range to preserve the band resolution, and as the reaction kinetics of the PO-CL reaction is considerably slower, extra flow elements are needed to observe the reaction in a time window at maximum emission intensity. Since these flow elements increase the complexity of the system and contribute to band-broadening, the rational way to adapt PO-CL detection to miniaturised separation systems is to speed up the reaction, so that it emits an initial burst of light within the acceptable detection time-frame. Although this may result in a lower overall quantum yield, the actual detection sensitivity could be equal to, or better than slower PO-CL systems. By making careful selections of oxalic reagent and catalyst(s) the reaction can be fine-tuned to maximise the intensity. In this work, the time-dependent light emission from the reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate (TCPO) was studied under the catalytic influence of imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and 1,8-diazabicyclo-5.4.0]-undec-7-ene (DBU) in acetonitrile. Both DMAP and DBU accelerated the reaction substantially, but the best combination of reaction speed and intensity was found for a mixture of 0.5 mM DBU and 5 mM 1,2,4-triazole, which reached its maximum emission after only 40 ms and had an emission intensity comparable to that seen with 5 mM imidazole as catalyst.