Observations of the chemiluminescent background emission from the reaction of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous tetrahydrofuran (1 + 1)

The chemiluminescent emission given by bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate and hydrogen peroxide, in the absence of a fluorophore, has been recorded in aqueous tetrahydrofuran (1 + 1) over the wavelength range 300-600 nm and the pH range 6.8-12.0. This emission is enhanced by the addition of alkyl halides and base catalysts such as imidazole and triethylamine. A mechanism accounting for the origin of this chemiluminescence is discussed together with is implications for analytical applications.