Chemiluminescence in the oxidation of sodium anthracenide and pyrenide by a RuIII complex

Chemiluminescence (CL) during oxidation of organosodium compounds of anthracene and pyrene in THF by a Ru(bpy)3 2+ complex was studied. Excited singlet states of anthracene and pyrene (1R*) and a Ru(bpy)3 2+* complex were identified as CL emitters. A mechanism for the generation of the excited states in electron transfer reactions resulting in the formation of Ru(bpy)3 2+* and triplet states of hydrocarbons (3R*) was proposed. The direct formation of a singlet state from the radical anion is energetically impossible. Therefore1R* is generated in the triplet-triplet annihilation3R*+3R*→1R*+R, whereas Ru(bpy)3 2+* can be formed in the reaction of Ru(bpy)3 3+ with Ru(bpy)3 1+ or by the energy transfer from1R* to Ru(bpy)3 2+.