Chemiluminescence in Organic Chemistry (Reactivity and Structure: Concepts in Organic Chemistry, 23)

The appearance of the first review in 1965 [1] and the first monograph in 1968 [2] on chemiluminescence demonstrated the extent of the phenomenon of light emission from the reaction of organic compounds in solution. Since then the num­ ber of chemiluminescent compounds has greatly increased, although the advan­ ces in theory and, more recently, applications are probably more significant. The present work is written by two authors who, together with E. H. White, helped to bring the study of chemiluminescence into the modern era. However many investigators are making contributions to the subject, even if the number of enthusiasts still remains small. It is not our intention to write an exhaustive account of chemiluminescence, still less of bioluminescence, and we have concentrated on making the landmarks in the area familiar to a readership outside the circle of specialists. The emphasis is on the range of organic compounds showing light emission with very little description of the relatively few inorganic or the more numerous biological examples which have been discovered. We hope that some of the excitement of the striking demonstrations of chemiluminescence which can be made appears in the text, albeit in the form of intellectual satisfaction and interest. We thank Prof. Dr. J. Stauff, Frankfurt for his generous advice and his critical comments. The chapter dealing with Peroxy-oxalate chemiluminescence has been commented up on critically by Dr. M. M. Rauhut, Stamford, Connecticut which we gratefully acknowledge. The appearance of the first review in 1965 [1] and the first monograph in 1968 [2] on chemiluminescence demonstrated the extent of the phenomenon of light emission from the reaction of organic compounds in solution. Since then the numƯ ber of chemiluminescent compounds has greatly increased, although the advanƯ ces in theory and, more recently, applications are probably more significant. The present work is written by two authors who, together with E.H. White, helped to bring the study of chemiluminescence into the modern era. However many investigators are making contributions to the subject, even if the number of enthusiasts still remains small. It is not our intention to write an exhaustive account of chemiluminescence, still less of bioluminescence, and we have concentrated on making the landmarks in the area familiar to a readership outside the circle of specialists. The emphasis is on the range of organic compounds showing light emission with very little description of the relatively few inorganic or the more numerous biological examples which have been discovered. We hope that some of the excitement of the striking demonstrations of chemiluminescence which can be made appears in the text, albeit in the form of intellectual satisfaction and interest. We thank Prof. Dr. J. Stauff, Frankfurt for his generous advice and his critical comments. The chapter dealing with Peroxy-oxalate chemiluminescence has been commented up on critically by Dr. M.M. Rauhut, Stamford, Connecticut which we gratefully acknowledge Front Matter....Pages I-X Introduction....Pages 1-3 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 General Concepts in Chemiluminescence....Pages 7-16 Front Matter....Pages 17-18 Autoxidation Reactions....Pages 19-32 Chemiluminescent Peroxide Decompositions, I (except Dioxetans)....Pages 33-53 Peroxide Decompositions, II: Dioxetans....Pages 54-68 Peroxy Oxalate Chemiluminescence....Pages 69-76 Luminol and Related Compounds....Pages 77-108 Acridine Derivatives....Pages 109-118 Other Nitrogen-Containing Compounds — Imine Peroxides....Pages 119-124 Miscellaneous Compounds....Pages 125-129 Electron Transfer Chemiluminescence....Pages 130-147 Front Matter....Pages 149-149 Bioluminescence as a Special Case of Chemiluminescence....Pages 151-163 Front Matter....Pages 165-165 Analytical and Other Applications of Chemi- and Bioluminescence....Pages 167-191 Instrumentation....Pages 192-194 Chemiluminescent Demonstrations [1]....Pages 195-202 Chemiluminescence in the Future....Pages 203-203 Back Matter....Pages 204-217