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′ L2 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 L2−. into L. and the imidazolyl anion L.− By detecting L2−. and L. as intermediates, this ECL study provides evidence for an ECE mechanism of the cathodic cleavage of L2.