Thermal decomposition of ozonides. A complementary method to the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of hindered ketones

Treatment of vinyl acetate with ozone yields the mixed anhydride of acetic and formic acids and formaldehyde oxide. The formaldehyde oxide can be trapped by reaction with ketones yielding the corresponding ozonides. Thermal decomposition of these ozonides gave the corresponding lactone and (or) the corresponding olefin carboxylic acid. The ozonides were also prepared by the ozonolysis of the corresponding olefins.