CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF OXYGEN-FREE ACETONE SOLUTIONS OF DIMETHYLDIOXIRANE

The decomposition of dimethyldioxirane (1) in oxygen-free acetone solu tions (46 degrees C) is accompanied by chemiluminescence (CL) in the v isible spectral region. The emitter of CL is tripler-excited methyl ac etate (2(T)). For the decomposition of solutions of 1 in acetone and deuterated dimethyldioxirane in acetone-D-6 the decay of CL follows th e first-order kinetics, and the kinetic isotope effect is observed. Tw o mechanisms of the formation of 2(T) are discussed: (a) chain-radica l process and (b) isomerization of 1 to 2.