Radiostorage- and photostoragechemiluminescence: analytical prospects Original Research Article

Radiolysed or photolysed azaaromatics — acridines, quinolines, isoquinolines, phenanthrolines, etc. — in amide solvents are chemiluminescent on addition of base. Such combinations of radiolysis or photolysis with chemiluminescence can form the basis for novel techniques for the determination of azaaromatics at the ng ml−1 level. More importantly, as only azaaromatics give chemiluminescence signals, such determinations can be performed without the need for separations from other constituents of a mixture. The radiostorage- and photostoragechemiluminescence (RSCL and PSCL, respectively) parameters of 22 azaaromatics are tabulated and diagrams of chemiluminescence signals versus concentration are presented for papaverine, hydroquinidine, quinine hydrochloride and chloroquine and primaquine diphosphates. A diagram of chemiluminescence signals versus concentration is also presented for hydroquinidine hydrochloride together with that of the commercial pharmaceutical formulation containing this azaaromatic compound, showing that pre-treatment of the commercial formulation is unnecessary.