Gas-phase ozonolysis of ethene in the presence of carbonyl-oxide scavengers

Potential carbonyl-oxide scavengers are included in gas-phase ozonolysis experiments in an attempt to determine the extent to which the Criegee mechanism is involved. The scavengers selected are those whose reaction mechanism in the liquid phase is understood; water, hydrogen peroxide, alcohols and carboxylic acids have thus far been examined. The products of the ozonolysis of ethene in the gas phase depend on whether carbonyl-oxide scavengers are present. In the absence of scavengers, formaldehyde and formic acid are the major products, and only minor amounts of H2O2 and hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide are found. In the presence 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 hydroperoxide, while alcohols and formic acid give alkoxymethyl hydroperoxides and hydroperoxymethyl formate, respectively.