In situ observation of single oxidation/halogenation events by catalytically generated hypobromite species using single molecule fluorescence microscopy allows monitoring of the diffusion behavior of these halonium species from the catalyst into the bulk solution. The fluororgenic probe specifically reacts with hypohalites, yielding fluorescein that can be detected with single molecule sensitivity. It was found for two investigated catalysts (Curvularia verruculosa enzymes and tungstate-exchanged LDH crystals) that in steady-state conditions hypobromite is able to diffuse over 800 nm in the bulk solution before it oxidizes organic substrates.
