TRIS(2,2'-BIPYRIDYL)RUTHENIUM(III) AS A CHEMILUMINESCENT REAGENT FOR DETECTION IN CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

A post-column chemiluminescent technique for the detection of compound s that are poor chromophores using electrogenerated chemiluminescence following separation by capillary electrophoresis is described. The lu minescent signal is generated following the reaction of analytes (e.g. amines) with Ru(bpy)(3)(3+), which is electrochemically generated pos t-column from Ru(bpy)(3)(2+). Tripropylamine and proline are used as t wo model compounds to demonstrate the feasibility of the method. Detec tion limits for the prototype system were in the micromolar range, sug gesting that this technique offers an alternative to indirect detectio n of compounds that are poor chromophores with an added selectivity ad vantage. The system includes the use of a conductive joint to isolate the separation field from the potential necessary to drive the electro generated chemiluminescent reaction. Addition of the chemiluminescent reagent Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) post-column did not decrease the efficiency of the separation. The design and fabrication of the novel cell is discus sed.