Electrogenerated chemiluminescence in mechanistic investigations of electroorganic reactions: Part I. Cathodic cleavage of bis-(2,4,5-triphenylimidazolyl)-1,2′ (dilophyl)

Abstract

In the simultaneous cathodic reduction of bis-(2,4,5-triphenylimidazolyl)1,2′ L 2 and some aromatic hydrocarbons A in dimethylformamide the emission of A is observed. This electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) originates from the electron transfer between A −. and the imidazolyl radicals L ., which are formed by a cleavage of L 2 −. into L . and the imidazolyl anion L . − By detecting L 2 −. and L . as intermediates, this ECL study provides evidence for an ECE mechanism of the cathodic cleavage of L 2.