Photo-oxidation of formic, acetic, and propionic acids with aqueous hydrogen peroxide

Photolytic oxidation of aliphatic acids with aqueous H 2 O 2 has been studied. Formic acid gives CO 2 and H 2 O. Acetic acid gives products containing CO 2 , methane, formic, glycolic, and tartaric acids. Propionic acid gives CO 2 , methane, ethane, acetic, formic, lactic, β-hydroxypropionic, malonic, and glycolic acids. A mechanism involving an initial H-atom abstraction by HO • formed via photo-dissociation of H 2 O 2 is postulated and discussed.