Analytical applications of tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) as a chemiluminescent reagent

This paper reviews the analytical applications of the chemiluminescence reactions involving tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III), from the earliest paper in 1978 to mid 1998. After an introduction which briefly describes historical perspectives, spectroscopic and mechanistic considerations, the review is divided into two major sections. The first section discusses the methods of generation of tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(III) reagent, including chemical/photochemical, electrochemical and in situ electrochemiluminescence methods. The second section describes the applications of this reagent to analysis under broad classifications according to the type of analyte determined. Entries for indirect methods, immunoassay and DNA probe assays have also been included. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.