Stable Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(III) for Chemiluminescence Detection

Two exceedingly stable [Ru(bipy)(3)](3+) reagents were prepared by dissolving either [Ru(bipy)(3)] (ClO(4))(2) in acetonitrile (containing 0.05 M HClO(4)) or [Ru(bipy)(3)]Cl(2)center dot 6H(2)O in 95:5 glacial acetic acid-acetic anhydride (containing 0.05 M H(2)SO(4)) followed by oxidation with PbO(2). These conveniently prepared solutions provide highly reproducible chemiluminescence detection over long periods of analysis, avoiding the need for recalibration or preparation of fresh reagent solutions and without the complications associated with online chemical or electrochemical oxidations. The reagent prepared in acetonitrile produced much greater signal intensities with a range of analytes and was deemed most suitable for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with postcolumn chemiluminescence detection.