Inhibition of luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence by reducing organic compounds

The effect of 22 reducing organic compounds on the chemiluminescent intensities and spectra of luminol-H2O2-Co2+ and lucigenin-H2O2-Co2+ reactions were examined. Many of the reductants inhibit the two chemiluminescent systems to different extents in the presence and absence of Co2+. The magnitude of inhibition by reducing organic compounds is related to their molecular structure and reducing properties. The mechanism of chemiluminescent inhibition by reducing organic compounds is probably due to the reaction between reductants and radical intermediates of chemiluminescent reaction. Based on the inhibition of luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence by reducing organic compounds, the possibility of analytical application was explored. Some reductants are detectable at picomolar levels. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.