Preparation of a New Phototropic Substance

Abstract

Under the investigation of the mechanism of chemiluminescence which occurred when lophine (2, 4, 5-triphenyl-imidazole) was oxidized in an ethanol solution of potassium hydroxide with an oxidizing agent, there was isolated a new phototropic substance which was considerd to be an imidazole derivative. To the solution of lophine (1 g.) in a solution of potassium hydro-xide (12g.) in ethanol (100 cc.), 450 cc. of 1% potassium ferricyanide aqueous solution was added during a period of 1.5 hr. with stirring by a stream of oxygen at room temperature. The violet color of the solution, which initially appeared, gradually disappeared and white precipitates , having a tinge of pale violet, separated out. When the oxidation was carried out in a dark place, a weak greenish blue chemilumines-cence was observed. The precipitates were filtered and then washed with water repeatedly until the washing showed no reaction of ferricyanide ion. The precipitates, dried in vacuo (0.9g.) were dissolved in benzene to yield a deep red violet solution. When the solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, a lemon yellow crystalline substance separated out. It was recrystallized from ethanol as lemon yellow prisms, m. p. 199•`201 •Ž.