The Bray–Liebhafsky Oscillatory Reaction as a Chemosensor for Benzenediols

Abstract

Benezediols are widely used in different areas of industry, thus identification and quantification of benzenediols is of utmost importance due to their toxicity and high environmental abundance. In this work, benzenediol isomers (pyrocatechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone) were investigated by using the Bray–Liebhafsky (BL) oscillatory reaction. All three isomers exhibit different behavior in the BL reaction, which renders the BL system applicable as a chemosensor. The period between the fifth and sixth oscillation, the amplitude of the sixth oscillation and in the case of hydroquinone, the emergence of a new oscillation in the BL reaction were selected as the parameters used for the identification and quantification of these isomers. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and DFT calculations were performed in order to provide insights into the mechanism of benzenediols reactions with the BL system.