Microwave-Assisted Cu-Catalyzed Protodecarboxylation of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids

An effective protocol has been developed that allows the smooth protodecarboxylation of diversely functionalized aromatic carboxylic acids within 5-15 min. In the presence of at most 5 mol % of an inexpensive catalyst generated in situ from copper(I) oxide and 1,10-phenanthroline, even nonactivated benzoates were converted in high yields and with great preparative ease.