Enhancement by cycloalkanes of the chemiluminescent oxidation of sulfite

Abstract

The oxidation of sulfite gives rise to chemiluminescence, measurement of which enables traces of sulfite to be detected. A study was conducted to try and explain why 3-cyclohexylaminopropanesulfonic acid sensitized the chemiluminescent oxidation of sulfite. It was found that the sensitization was due to the presence of the cyclohexyl ring and that other cycloalkyl compounds also sensitized the reaction. Although the evidence is not conclusive, it is thought that the nature of the sensitization could be due to the formation of a β-sultine.