Theoretical study of the correlation between superoxide anion consumption and firefly luciferin chemiluminescence

- The correlation between O2− and firefly luciferin chemiluminescence was studied.
- Firefly luciferin can inhibit the formation of O2− in DMSO by protonating tert-BuO−.
- This is not enough to explain the consumption of O2− in chemiluminescence solutions.
- It is concluded that O2− has a role in firefly luciferin chemiluminescence.