L-(+)-tartaric acid, can participate in several reactions. As shown the reaction scheme below, dihydroxymaleic acid is produced upon treatment of L-(+)-tartaric acid with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a ferrous salt.
:HOCCH(OH)CH(OH)COH + HO → HOCC(OH)C(OH)COH + 2 HO
Dihydroxymaleic acid can then be oxidized to tartronic acid with nitric acid.