Chemiluminescence from the decomposition of alkyl hyponitrites in poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene

The kinetics of decay of chemiluminescence (CL) from the decomposition of l-phenylethyl hyponitrite (PEH) and isopropyl hyponitrite (LPH) in poly( methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) films was investigated in nonisothermal and isothermal experiments. The measured rate constants for decay varied by about 20% with changes in initial concentration, and were about 50% slower than rate constants calculated from solution-based activation parameters. The luminescence yields from the hyponitrites in polymer matrices were lowered with increasing hyponitrite concentration, and also by the presence of low-molecular-weight residues or, most spectacularly, by dissolved oxygen. The photosensitized destruction of IPH by 9,10-dibromoanthracene (DBA) in PMMA was demonstrated. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science S.A.