The Chemiluminescence of Certain Indoles*

A series of twenty‐four indoles and related compounds have been examined for chemiluminescent activity in aqueous solution and in dimethylsulfoxide. Seven compounds were found to chemiluminesce in the presence of base and peroxydisulfate in aqueous solution and eleven compounds gave chemiluminescence in dimethylsulfoxide with base using oxygen as the oxidizing agent. The relative intensities have been determined. There is no clear correlation between substitution patterns and the presence of chemiluminescence in either series. Some preliminary kinetic studies have been made on the indole system. Product studies indicate that the indole is degraded by at least two different pathways and that chemiluminescent process is probably only a small fraction of the total chemical change occurring.