Kinetic study of the Ce(III)‐, Mn(II)‐, or ferroin‐catalyzed Belousov‐Zhabotinsky reaction with pyruvic acid

The Ce(III)‐, Mn(II)‐, or ferroin (Fe(phen)₃²⁺)‐catalyzed reaction of bromate ion and pyruvic acid (PA) or its dimer exhibits oscillatory behavior. Both the open‐chain dimer (parapyruvic acid, γ‐methyl‐γ‐hydroxyl‐α‐keto‐glutaric acid, DPA1) and the cyclic‐form dimer (α‐keto‐γ‐valerolactone‐γ‐carboxylic acid, DPA2) show more sustained oscillations than PA monomer. Ferroin behaves differently from Ce(III) or Mn(II) ion in catalyzing these oscillating systems. The kinetics of reactions of PA, 3‐brompyruvic acid (BrPA), DPA1, or DPA2 with Ce(IV), Mn(III), Fe(phen)₃³⁺ ion were investigated. The order of relative reactivity of pyruvic acids toward reaction with Ce(IV), Mn(III), or Fe(phen)₃³⁺ ion is DPA2 > DPA1 > BrPA > PA and that of metal ions toward reaction with pyruvic acids is Mn(III) > Ce(IV) > Fe(phen)₃³⁺. The rates of bromination reactions of pyruvic acids are independent of the concentration of bromine and the order of reactivity toward bromination is (DPA1, DPA2) > BrPA > PA. Experimental results are rationalized. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 408–418, 2000