Efficiency and Selectivity of Excited-State Production

It is now our task to amalgamate the experimental data on the thermolysis of 1,2-dioxetanes into a consistent mechanism. This has not been at all easy, as witnessed by the mechanistic turmoil precipitated during the last couple of years. Two mechanisms have been argued. 

Quantum Yields of Excited State Production and Spin Multiplicity Dependence 

direct chemiluminescence B, enhanced chemiluminescence C, chemical counting. 

These are the stepwise diradical path [Eq. (38)] proposed by Richard-sonu,97band the concerted retrocyclic path [Eq. (39)] suggested by Turro.11,94 

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