A General Method for Photocatalytic Decarboxylative Hydroxylation of Carboxylic Acids

J Org Chem. 2020 Apr 3;85(7):5019-5026. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c00312. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Abstract

A general and practical method for decarboxylative hydroxylation of carboxylic acids was developed through visible light-induced photocatalysis using molecular oxygen as the green oxidant. The addition of NaBH4 to in situ reduce the unstable peroxyl radical intermediate much broadened the substrate scope. Different sp3 carbon-bearing carboxylic acids were successfully employed as substrates, including phenylacetic acid-type substrates, as well as aliphatic carboxylic acids. This transformation worked smoothly on primary, secondary, and tertiary carboxylic acids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't