Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of Pb(II)-bromide complexes

The electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of Pb₄Br₁₁ ³⁻ in acetonitrile solution is reported. Pb₄Br₁₁ ³⁻ is formed in situ by the reaction of lead(II) and bromide ions with ECL generated upon sweep to positive potentials using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as an oxidative-reductive coreactant. An ECL efficiency (φ_ecl) of 0.0079 was obtained compared to Ir(ppy)₃ (ppy=2-phenylpyridine; φ_ecl=1). The ECL intensity peaks at a potential corresponding to oxidation of TPrA and Pb₄Br₁₁ ³⁻ indicating that emission is from the lead-bromide cluster.