Ozonization of Organic Compounds. VII. Carboxylic Acids, Alcohols, and Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract The rate and products of the ozonization of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones have been studied in water at 30 °C. The ozonization of alcohols gave corresponding carbonyl compounds as major product. The ozonization of ketones brought about primarily the carbon-carbon bond cleavage and gave carboxylic acids. Saturated carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and isobutyric acid were ozonized only slowly in neutral water, but they were ozonized faster in alkaline aqueous solution. On the other hand, α-hydroxy carboxylic acids such as glycolic acid and lactic acid were ozonized even in pure water. The mechanism of ozonization of these compounds and the effect of pH are discussed.