Benzylmalonic acid reaction with iodine and behavior in a Briggs-Rauscher oscillator

Benzylmalonic acid (BzMA) reacts via an enol mechanism with aqueous iodine to form rather stable iodobenzylmalonic acid, In the presence of iodate. which oxidizes iodide to di-iodine, the reaction goes to completion, The kinetics of the reaction BzMA + I-2 + IO3- + H+ have been studied and the results were interpreted with a suitable mechanism. In a mixture with acidic iodate, hydrogen peroxide, and manganous ions, BzMA can serve as a substrate for a Briggs-Rauscher-type oscillating reaction. The behavior of this oscillator has been studied in detail. A mechanistic interpretation of the oscillations based on a new kinetic model is also given. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.