Chemiluminescence in reactions of manganese(III) reduction by lactic acid: Two-electron mechanism of chemiexcitation

Chemiluminescence is generated during reduction of manganese(III) ions with lactic acid to have a quantum yield as high as 0.1, a record-breaking chemi-excitation value for inorganic emitters. Kinetic features of the chemiluminescence and a nonradical mechanism of lactic acid oxidation lead to the conclusion that chemiexcitation results from two-electron reduction of manganese(IV) ions in the complex with lactic acid.