Chemiluminescence of phthalhydrazide derivatives in organized media: Interactions with surfactants and cyclodextrins

► Natural cyclodextrins act as boosters of the chemiluminescence of luminol and its derivatives. ► Cyclodextrins can be successfully employed for improving the possibilities of those applications that make use of the CL of luminol and its derivatives as a detection or quantification method. ► Ionic and non-ionic surfactants do not either enhance or even quench the chemiluminescence of luminol and derivatives in water catalyzed by Co(II). ► Presence of an aliphatic chain helps in the incorporation of ABEI and AHEI to the micelles, especially to the cationic CTAB.