Croconic acid, H2C5O5. is readily oxidized. This may be attested by decolorization of the solutions and by observation of oxalic acid complexes. The oxidation products are identified by I3C NMR spectroscopy as oxalic and mesoxalic acids, and experimental conditions are specified. The oxidation process requires dioxygen and photons. In parallel, the electrochemical oxidation of croconic acid is studied in aqueous media and in acetonitrile. A potential-pH diagram is drawn. 4,5-Dihydroxycyclopentenetrione 1, commonly known as "croconic" acid, H2C505, and the croconate anion [C,O,]~-have received considerable attention from both a theoretical and an experimental point of view (1-6). Croconate, like squarate or rhodizonate ions, is a member of the oxocarbon ring system, [cn0,12-, a new class of aromatic substances with planar structure containing only carbon and oxygen atoms. Both croconic and squaric acids are strong acids in aqueous solution, having pK,, values of 0.80 (7) and 0.54 (8), respectively.During the course of our investigations concerning transition metal complexes of croconic acid we attempted to prepare a manganese croconate complex. In the presence of croconic acid, 2,2'-bipyridine, and Mn(I1) salt, the complex [Mn(CloHsN2)(C204)], was unexpectedly obtained, and was structurally identified (9). This synthesis requires the oxidation of croconic acid into oxalic acid.Oxidation of croconic acid and of other polyketo compounds by molybdenum(V1) in acidic media has already been described by ; a transient 111 complex between Mo(V1) and the ionized acid was shown. 0xalic and mesoxalic acids were identified among the oxida-