Coelenterazine is a luciferin, a molecule that emits light after reaction with oxygen, found in many aquatic organisms across eight phyla.

Coelenterazine was simultaneously isolated and characterized by two groups studying the luminescent organisms sea pansy (Renilla reniformis) and the cnidarian Aequorea victoria, respectively.

Likewise, the two main metabolites – coelenteramide and coelenteramine – were named after their respective functional groups.

The molecule spontaneously oxidizes in aerobic conditions or in some organic solvents such as dimethylformamide and DMSO and is preferentially stored in methanol or with an inert gas.

To improve its biophysical properties, derivatives of coelenterazine have been synthesized by means of different procedures including multicomponent strategies.