Detection of singlet oxygen generated by commercial fine art organic pigments by means of a novel, robust chemical probe

A novel, robust chemical method for the detection of singlet oxygen is reported. It uses the oxo-ene reaction of the largely available and inexpensive dicyclopentadiene which is transformed by singlet oxygen into a hydroperoxide, quantitatively converted in situ by acetic anhydride and pyridine into a stable ketone, easily detectable by standard GC. The method has been tested in the detection of singlet oxygen as generated by standard organic pigments used in commercially available tubes for fine art paintings.

► We develop an original methodology for the detection of singlet oxygen.
► The methodology is based on oxo-ene reaction with inexpensive dicyclopentadiene.
► The method requires simple operations and equipment.
► The method was applied to test 15 modern organic pigments employed in fine arts.
► Pigments either inhibit the oxygen reactivity, or produced singlet oxygen.