Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025

A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting
Published on: March 9, 2017
The Molecular Basis of Organic Chemiluminescence
Maidileyvis C Cabello1, Fernando H Bartoloni2, Erick L Bastos1
1Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil.
Abstract:
Bioluminescence (BL) and chemiluminescence (CL) are interesting and intriguing phenomena that involve the emission of visible light as a consequence of chemical reactions. The mechanistic basis of BL and CL has been investigated in detail since the 1960s, when the synthesis of several models of cyclic peroxides enabled mechanistic studies on the CL transformations, which led to the formulation of general chemiexcitation mechanisms operating in BL and CL. This review describes these general chemiexcitation mechanisms-the unimolecular decomposition of cyclic peroxides and peroxide decomposition catalyzed by electron/charge transfer from an external (intermolecular) or an internal (intramolecular) electron donor-and discusses recent insights from experimental and theoretical investigation. Additionally, some recent representative examples of chemiluminescence assays are given.
More Related Videos
05:52In Situ Measurement and Correlation of Cell Density and Light Emission of Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: June 28, 2018
08:51Scale-up Chemical Synthesis of Thermally-activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters Based on the Dibenzothiophene-S,S-Dioxide Core
Published on: October 24, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Photoluminescence: Applications
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence
A pair of electrons in a...
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation
Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission
Deactivation Processes: Jablonski Diagram