Ozonolysis of Alkynes

Alkynes when treated with ozone followed by water, internal alkynes undergo oxidative cleavage to produce carboxylic acids. However, the terminal alkyne also undergoes oxidative cleavage but the terminal side is converted into carbon dioxide. If the alkyne is symmetrical, then two molecules of the same carboxylic acid are formed otherwise two different carboxylic acids are formed.

Mechanism