Ozone Chemistry and Oxidative Mechanisms

Ozone, a triatomic form of oxygen, is among the most potent oxidants encountered in atmospheric and laboratory settings. Its reactivity stems from the tendency to undergo electrophilic addition across unsaturated bonds, yielding unstable primary ozonides that rapidly fragment into carbonyl compounds and reactive intermediates. Central to these processes is the Criegee intermediate—a carbonyl oxide species that can rearrange, dimerise or generate radical chains. In atmospheric chemistry, ozone drives the oxidative degradation of volatile organic compounds and contributes to secondary aerosol formation, with important consequences for air quality and climate. In synthetic chemistry, controlled ozonolysis delivers selective cleavages of alkenes, aromatics and complex natural products, while in material science it provides a route to surface functionalisation. Across environmental remediation, pharmaceutical degradation and advanced manufacturing, the interplay between electrophilic addition and radical chain mechanisms underpins both the efficiency and selectivity of ozone-mediated transformations.

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Ozone Chemistry and Oxidative Mechanisms publication trend

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Technical terms

Primary ozonide: An unstable cyclic trioxide formed by cycloaddition of ozone to an alkene.

Criegee intermediate: A carbonyl oxide species generated by the fragmentation of a primary ozonide, capable of undergoing further rearrangements or radical reactions.

Secondary ozonide: A more stable trioxolane structure arising from recombination of a Criegee intermediate with a carbonyl fragment.

Electrophilic addition: A reaction mechanism in which an electrophile, such as ozone, attacks an electron-rich π bond to form a new covalent bond.

Radical chain reaction: A self-propagating sequence of steps in which radical species are generated and consumed, sustaining the overall oxidation process.

References

1. Ozonation of Decalin as a Model Saturated Cyclic Molecule: A Spectroscopic Study. Molecules (2021).
2. Enhancing the Wettability of Polyetheretherketone (Peek) Membrane with Ozone for Improving Fuel Cell Performance. Journal of Energy and Power Technology (2022).
3. Ozonation process for hazardous drugs molecules in aqueous media. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (2017).