Applying combined HPLC and NMR techniques, it was found that, besides the already known 1,1,2,2-ethanetetracarboxylic acid (ETA), monomalonyl malonate (MAMA) is also a product of the Ce4+-malonic acid reaction. This is indirect evidence that two different types of organic radicals are formed in the reaction : the alkyl and the carboxylato malonyl radicals. While ETA is a recombination product of two alkyl radicals, MAMA is formed in the recombination of one alkyl and one carboxylato radical.