An investigation into the reaction of hemin-catalysed luminol oxidation by peroxy compounds

The oxidation of luminol by organic peroxy compounds catalysed by hemin was studied. The influence of the reaction conditions and the structure of the oxidant on CL emissions was evaluated. It was found that the light intensity produced during the reaction of peroxy acids and diacyl peroxides was not substantially influenced by substitution. Peroxyesters and hydroperoxides behaved differently and their structure strongly affected the light yield. No light was detected from dialkyl peroxides under investigative conditions. The results imply that hydroperoxides and peroxy acids are intermediate in peroxyesters and diacyl peroxide reactions, respectively. In the case of peroxyesters, the rate of the hydrolysis step is light-yield determining. A mechanism was proposed to explain the behaviour of peroxy compounds toward luminol and hemin.