Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)3(2+) by flavone compounds

Flavones such as morin, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin and wogonin were found to be able to strongly enhance the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) system. Based on this, a novel ECL method with good stability and reproducibility could be developed for determination of flavones. Under the optimum conditions, the enhanced ECL intensity was linear with the flavones concentration in a wide range. The detection limits (defined as S:N = 3) for morin, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin and wogonin were 3.2 x 10(-7) mol/L, 4.3 x 10(-7), 1.8 x 10(-7), 8.0 x 10(-8) and 1.0 x 10(-7 ) mol/L, respectively. In addition, the possible mechanism for the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL system in the presence of flavones is also discussed.