Application of the Ru(bipy)2(dpp)2+ / C2O42− electrochemiluminescence reaction to the determination of phenol

The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of the ruthenium di(2,2′-bipyridine)- (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) complex (Ru-bipy-dpp) produced on a glassy carbon electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The anodic oxidation of Ru-bipy-dpp produces ECL in the presence of oxalate in oxygen-free aqueous solutions. Threefold ECL efficiencies were obtained for Ru-bipy-dpp relative to Ru(bipy)3 as a standard. The ECL of Ru-bipy-dpp is quenched by both oxygen and phenol. The luminescence intensity was proportional to the concentration of phenol in the range of 5–100 µM. At a phenol concentration of 100 µM, the ECL of Ru-bipy-dpp peaking at 597 nm was completely quenched.