What happens when alkenes are oxidized?

1 Answer

Alkenes are oxidised to give carbonyl compounds or carboxylic acids depending upon the condition.

Explanation:

So ozonolysis is an example of oxidative cleavage reaction that leads to the breaking #"C"-"C"# double bond on oxidation. There are two types of it

  1. Oxidative ozonolysis
  2. Reductive ozonolysis

Let me begin with oxidative ozonolysis. In this reaction, #"C"="C"# is broken to give oxygen at each of the broken carbon. In case of this reaction when workup is done with #"H"_2"O"_2# each of the oxygen is oxidized to give carboxylic acid at each of the carbon.

https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2013/04/23/alkene-reactions-ozonolysis/

Now taking the second condition, i.e reductive ozonolysis.
In this case, oxygen is oxidized to intermediate form i.e carbonyl compound. The reductive workup is done with #"Zn"# or #"S"("CH"_3)_2#.

https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com/2013/04/23/alkene-reactions-ozonolysis/

Hope it helps!!