Mechanism of action of 4-dialkylaminopyridines as secondary enhancers in enhanced chemiluminescence reaction.

Kinetic study of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 3-(10'-phenothiazinyl)propane-1-sulfonate (SPTZ) by hydrogen peroxide demonstrated that the addition of 4-dialkylaminopyridines to a substrate solution significantly increased a rate of production of SPTZ cation radical and did not affect the rate of decomposition of this radical. These results explain the mechanism of action of 4-dialkylaminopyridines as secondary enhancers in enhanced chemiluminescence reaction used widely in analytical practice.