CHEMILUMINESCENT REACTION OF BENZOYL PEROXIDE WITH AMINES

A simple and rapid chemiluminescent method has been developed for the assay of benzoyl peroxide in organic or aqueous solvents. Some nitroge n reagents were tested regarding their ability to produce chemilumines cence by reacting with benzoyl peroxide. Triethylamine and quinuclidin e have been found to be suitable amines for this method. The products of the reaction were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrosc opy. Other primary or secondary amines or amides also produce a chemil uminescent reaction with benzoyl peroxide, although the intensity of t he luminescence is smaller. 9, 10-Dibromoanthracene, pyrene or rubrene are effective enhancers of the chemiluminescent reactions examined. T en ng/ml of benzoyl peroxide in chloroform can be detected using triet hylamine and rubrene as chemiluminescent reagents. Therefore, the limi t of benzoyl peroxide detection has been lowered by a factor of about 2000. The presence of the aromatic compound probably induces an energy transfer which helps in the formation of excited states on this molec ule.