Kinetics and mechanism of tetranitromethane reduction in luminol oxidation with ferricyanide in aerated aqueous alkali solutions

The kinetics of tetranitromethane reduction in the luminol oxidation with ferricyanide in aerated aqueous alkali solutions were studied. Reactions of tetranitromethane with the luminol radical anion and luminol peroxide radical ion were shown to contribute substantially to the tetranitromethane reduction. The mechanism of the process was proposed and the rate constant for Phe reaction of luminol radical with C(NO2)(4) (2.4 x 10(9) 1 mol(-1) s(-1)) and the two-electron redox potential phi((L) double over dot/L2-) = 0.35-0.3 V were estimated.