Solution kinetics of the degradation of the chemiluminescent reagent bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) oxalate in water/acetonitrile

Abstract

Simultaenous ultraviolet absorbance measurements at 240 and 260 nm are used to quantify DNPO and its principle degradation product 2,4-dinitrophenol. The stability of DNPO was determined in various water acetonitrile mixtures (23±0.5°C). The decomposition follows (pseudo)- first-order kinetics in each system, and is third order in water concentration. An Arrhenius plot was used to obtain estimates for the activation energy, activation enthalphy, and activation entropy.