Electrochemiluminescent reaction utilizing amine-derived reductant

A kit for generating electrochemiluminescence with a composition comprising the components of said kit in suitable admixture, which kit consists essentially of (i) a metal-containing electrochemiluminescent moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, is capable of being converted to an excited state from which electromagnetic radiation is emitted upon exposure of the excited electrochemiluminescent moiety to conditions sufficient to induce said emission, (ii) a tertiary amine or tertiary amine moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, forms a strong reducing agent, the amine being present in a solution having an amine concentration greater than 50 mM, and (iii) an electrolyte capable of functioning as a medium in which said electrochemiluminescent moiety and said amine or amine moiety can be oxidized by exposure to electrochemical energy,

• said kit comprising at least one separate component including one or more members of a group consisting of said electrochemiluminescent moiety (i), amine or amine moiety (ii), and electrolyte (iii).

A kit for generating electrochemiluminescence with a composition comprising the components of said kit in suitable admixture, which kit consists essentially of (i) a metal chelate which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, is capable of being converted to an excited state from which electrochemiluminescence is emitted upon exposure of the excited metal chelate sufficient to induce said emission, (ii) a tertiary amine or tertiary amine moiety which, when oxidized by exposure to an effective amount of electrochemical energy, forms a strong reducing agent, and (iii) an electrolyte capable of functioning as a medium in which said chelate and said amine or amine moiety can be oxidized by exposure to electrochemical energy, wherein said electrolyte is a buffered system yielding a pH greater than 6.5;

• said kit comprising at least one separate component including one or more members of a group consisting of said electrochemiluminescent moiety (i), amine or amine moiety (ii), and electrolyte (iii).