Ultraviolet-Visible emission from iso-octane combustion was measured behind reflected shock waves. OH*, CH* and C-2* were recorded as the major intermediate species. When the equivalence ratio increases, the emission intensity ratio of OH*/CH* decreases and that of C-2*/OH* increases. Rotational and vibrational temperatures were determined by comparing the measured emission spectra with the simulated ones of CH* and C-2*. The rotational temperatures are in good agreement with the calculated adiabatic flame temperatures and the vibrational temperatures are significantly higher. Furthermore, ignition delay times were obtained to provide a database for the validation of the kinetic mechanism. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.