In this study, auto-ignition of end-gas due to flame propagation and intensity oscillations caused by shockwaves that occur during knocking combustion were visualized in a compression-expansion engine using a high-speed video camera. Chemical luminescence emissions of the end-gas were detected to analyze the chemical reactions caused by the auto-ignition. Four main conclusions were drawn from this study. When the end-gas region was compressed due to the propagating flame front, auto-ignited kernels appeared near a negative curvature of the flame front. This negative curvature was related to low-temperature chemistry. The large amount of unburned mixture generated a strong pressure wave caused by the auto-ignited kernels explosion. Visualized images of a regular propagating flame front and auto-ignited kernels confirmed that the knocking intensity had a strong relationship with the mass fraction of the unburned mixture. Oscillations of OH* radicals were synchronized with the in-cylinder pressure oscillations, which were produced due to the resulting shockwave. Before auto-ignition of the end-gas occurred, weak OH* radicals and very weak HCHO* radicals appeared in the end-gas region due to low-temperature chemistry. The OH* radicals played an important role in the low-temperature kinetic reactions. This confirms low-temperature chemical reaction of auto-ignited kernel in the end gas region. OH* radicals are a good indicator of the transition from low-temperature chemistry to high-temperature auto-ignition. (c) 2006 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.