Ozonolysis of oleic acid in methanol, a reacting solvent, with s~i b s e q~~e n t decomposition of the ozonide products by hydrogen peroxide in formic acid, gives yields of principal dicarboxylic acid fission products exceeding 95y0 with a mini111~1m of secondary acidic products.The method is highly reproducible and offers unique advantages in the total recovery of the dicarboxylic acids and the eliininatioil of peroxidic materials. The principal non-acidic byp r o d~~c t s were tentatively identilied as the CS alcohols and their for111yl esters.

The application of 2,2-dimethoxypropane to the in situ conversion of the free fatty acids of cod oil to methyl esters is successful in reducing the free fatty acid content to the order of 1%. This material, in the presence of a suitable acid catalyst, serves both as a water scavenger and a source of methanol for the esterification. Of the catalysts examined, methanolic HCl gives the best results. Purification procedures giving a stable product are outlined.