The　chemiluminescent　characteristics　of　the　oxidation　of　some　xanthone　dyes　were　studied　in　detail.　The　chemiluminescence　spectra　of　these　dyes　and　the　absorption　and　fluorescence　spectra　of　some　products　of　the　chemiluminescent　reactions　were　investigated;　all　these　dyes　were　studied　by　the　Hückel　molecular　orbital　method.　On　the　basis　of　these　investigations,　an　initial　explanation　for　the　relationship　between　the　structure　of　the　dye　molecules　and　their　chemiluminescent　behaviour　and　a　possible　mechanism　for　this　chemiluminescent　reaction　were　proposed.　The　effects　of　various　types　of　surfactants　on　the　chemiluminescent　reaction　were　also　studied.　The　mechanism　of　the　enchancement　of　chemiluminescence　by　surfactants　is　discussed.　The　catalysis　of　some　metal　ions　was　also　examined,　and　it　was　found　that　trace　Co(II)　would　catalyse　the　chemiluminescent　reaction　in　the　presence　of　the　cationic　surfactant　cetyltrimethylammonium　bromide.　The　detection　limit　was　4-10　pg　Co　ml-1,　depending　on　the　dye.　©　1994.