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Updated: Jul 30, 2025

A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
Connecting Ruthenium Photocatalysis to 1,2-Dioxetane-Mediated Chemiluminescence: a Versatile Combination for Optical
Johannes Köckenberger1, Ryan Thurston1, Caroline Sauer1
1Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Str. 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
Abstract:
Optical storage and photon quantification systems based on sensitive photoreactions have numerous applications. Herein, we report a highly efficient photocatalytic reaction, in which ruthenium photoredox catalysis is combined with a 1,2-dioxetane from which chemiluminescence can be triggered. In this system, blue light irradiation as optical input enables a defined inverse correlation with base-triggered, blue light emission as optical output. Comparison of readout by 1 H NMR and chemiluminescence, relative to previous optical input, underlines the reliability and usefulness of the ruthenium-dioxetane system for optical storage, sensing and ruthenium detection.

