GAS-PHASE OZONOLYSIS OF ETHENE IN THE PRESENCE OF CARBONYL-OXIDE SCAVENGERS

Potential carbonyl-oxide scavengers are included in gas-phase ozonolys is experiments in an attempt to determine the extent to which the Crie gee mechanism is involved. The scavengers selected are those whose rea ction mechanism in the liquid phase is understood; water, hydrogen per oxide, alcohols and carboxylic acids have thus far been examined. The products of the ozonolysis of ethene in the gas phase depend on whethe r carbonyl-oxide scavengers are present. In the absence of scavengers, formaldehyde and formic acid are the major products, and only minor a mounts of H2O2 and hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide are found. In the prese nce of a scavenger, certain products observed in addition to these can be regarded as arising from addition of the scavenger to the carbonyl oxide. Thus, H2O2 leads to the formation of hydroperoxymethyl hydrope roxide, while alcohols and formic acid give alkoxymethyl hydroperoxide s and hydroperoxymethyl formate, respectively. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.