Radicals in the Bray-Liebhafsky oscillatory reaction

Abstract

This study investigates the formation of free radicals in the Bray-Liebhafsky (BL) oscillatory reaction. The results indicate that radicals are produced during both monotonous and oscillatory dynamics observed as the change of the electron paramagnetic signal (EPR) of the spin-probe TEMPONE. EPR spin-trapping with DEPMPO suggested that the most abundant radical produced in the BL reaction is an iodine-centered radical. The EPR spectrum of the DEPMPO/iodine-centered radical adducts has not been previously reported. This study may aid in establishing a more realistic reaction mechanism of the BL reaction and related chemical oscillators.