Fragmentation of carbonyl oxides by N-oxides: an improved approach to alkene ozonolysis.

[Structure: see text] Ozonolysis of alkenes in the presence of amine N-oxides results in the direct formation of aldehydes. This reaction, which appears to involve an unprecedented trapping and fragmentation of the short-lived carbonyl oxide intermediates, avoids the hazards associated with generation and isolation of ozonides or other peroxide products.