Visible-light-promoted oxidative decarboxylation of arylacetic acids in air: Metal-free synthesis of aldehydes and ketones at room temperature

A metal-free photocatalytic oxidative decarboxylation reaction at room temperature was developed for the synthesis of aromatic aldehydes and ketones from the corresponding arylacetic acids. The reaction was realized under blue-light irradiation by adding 1 mol% of 4CzIPN as photocatalyst and air as oxidant. This reaction represents a novel decarboxylation of a sp(3) -hybridized carboxylic acids without traditional heating, additional oxidants, and metal reagents under mild conditions. (C) 2019 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.