The nature of the transitory product in the gas-phase ozonolysis of ethene

One of the reactants for the formation of previously identified transitory product in the gas-phase ozonolysis of C2H4 was shown to be HCOOH. The most probable structure of this compound is HOOCH2OCHO. Its concentration increased with the addition of HCOOH but decreased with the addition of HCHO which had previously been assumed as one of the reactants. This compound slowly decomposed to formic acid anhydride and water.