1,2-Dioxetanedione
The chemical compound 1,2-dioxetanedione, or 1,2-dioxacyclobutane-3,4-dione, often called peroxyacid ester, is an unstable oxide of carbon with formula CO. It can be viewed as a double ketone of 1,2-dioxetane, or a cyclic dimer of carbon dioxide.
In ordinary conditions, it quickly decomposes to carbon dioxide even at, but can be detected by mass spectrometry and other techniques.
1,2-Dioxetanedione is an intermediate in the chemoluminescent reactions used in glowsticks. The decomposition proceeds via a paramagnetic oxalate biradical intermediate.
Recently it has been found that a high-energy intermediate in one of these reactions, which is presumed to be 1,2-dioxetanedione, can accumulate in solution at room temperature , provided that the activating dye and all traces of metals and other reducing agents are removed from the system, and the reactions are carried out in an inert atmosphere.
