Chemiluminescence in cumene and acenaphthene oxidation in solutions in thepresence of pyridinum and alkylammonium salts

Chemiluminescence in onium (pyridinium or ammonium) salt-catalyzed oxidatio n of alkylarenes (cumene and acenaphthene) was studied. Chemiluminescence i ntensity was shown to substantially depend on the salt and substrate nature . The mechanism of chemiluminescence initiation in this case is more comple x than in the oxidation catalyzed by transition metal salts. Besides the ch emiluminescence due to recombination of peroxy radicals, much stronger chem iluminescence arises in other reactions involving peroxy radicals and the s pecies produced upon transformation of onium salt molecules.