Oxidative cleavages can help to determine the positions of the triple bonds in alkynes....

Oxidative cleavages can help to determine the positions of the triple bonds in alkynes. (a) An unknown alkyne undergoes oxidative cleavage to give adipic acid and two equivalents of acetic acid. Propose a structure for the alkyne.

(b) An unknown alkyne undergoes oxidative cleavage to give the following triacid plus one equivalent of propionic acid. Propose a structure for the alkyne.