Alkynes undergo ozonolysis to give an acid anhydride or a diketone as the final product. The fragmentation is not complete in this reaction (alkenes undergo complete fragmentation). No reducing agents are required as a simple aqueous workup is followed. If the reaction happens in the presence of water, the acid anhydride undergoes hydrolyzation to give two carboxylic acids. Ozonolysis can also be used to determine the position of the triple bond in an unknown alkyne.

Ozonolysis of Alkynes Mechanism:The alkyne reacts with the ozone, causing the breakage of the alkyne. This gives rise to the ozonide intermediate. A simple aqueous workup follows with the help of zinc metal, finally yielding a dicarbonyl compound. The reaction can be written as:

Ozonolysisis an organic reaction where the unsaturated bonds of alkenes,alkynes, or azo compounds are cleaved with ozone. Alkenes andalkynesform organic compounds in which the multiple carbon–carbon bond has been replaced by a carbonyl group while azo compounds form nitrosamines