From dicarboxylic acid decarboxylations

Dicarboxylic acids decarboxylate by attack of peroxy radicals on a-C— H bonds. The evidence for such a mechanism was obtained from data on the decarboxylation of adipic acid, with COOH and COOD groups, in oxidizing cumene, when the velocities of C02 production were found to be the same [299]. Carbon dioxide is produced from the acid in the initiated oxidation of cumene (Table 14) and cyclohexanol [215] after the induction period associated with the formation of an intermediate, probably a-hydroperoxide, after attack of peroxy radicals on a-C—H... 

Poly(benzimidazoles) are produced from dicarboxylic acids and aromatic tetramines. Commercially, 3,3 -diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride and diphenyl isophthalate are preferentially used. The diphenyl ester is used because (a) the free acids decarboxylate under the high reaction temperatures of 250-400 C (b) the acyl chlorides react too fast, making ring closure difficult and (c) the amino groups are partially methylated if the methyl esters are used. The hydrochloride is used because it is more stable to oxidation than the free amine itself. The polycondensation is carried out in two stages. A prepolymer. A, is formed in the first stage with foaming and phenol elimination ... 

The existence of the n-C2 to n-C4 mono- and dicarboxylic acids in hydro-thermal sedimentary environments depends upon the rates of their production and the rates of decomposition and/or oxidation. These two classes of acids exhibit very different rates and mechanisms of decarboxylation. Decarboxylation of acetic acid, and probably of other aliphatic monocar-boxylic acids, proceeds by a heterogeneous catalytic mechanism apparently very different from the homogeneous mechanism for decarboxylation of the dicarboxylic acids. Due to the limited amount of experimental information regarding the kinetics of oxidation or condensation for both classes of acids, no definitive mechanistic trends can be postulated for this process. Nevertheless, it is possible to place constraints on the kinetics and mechanism for the oxidation reaction(s) if this process were assumed to control the ultimate decomposition of acetic acid. Results from studies of mono- and dicarboxylic acid decarboxylation are summarized below. 

Regioselectivity of C—C double bond formation can also be achieved in the reductiv or oxidative elimination of two functional groups from adjacent carbon atoms. Well estab llshed methods in synthesis include the reductive cleavage of cyclic thionocarbonates derivec from glycols (E.J. Corey, 1968 C W. Hartmann, 1972), the reduction of epoxides with Zn/Nal or of dihalides with metals, organometallic compounds, or Nal/acetone (seep.lS6f), and the oxidative decarboxylation of 1,2-dicarboxylic acids (C.A. Grob, 1958 S. Masamune, 1966 R.A. Sheldon, 1972) or their r-butyl peresters (E.N. Cain, 1969). 

Thiazole carboxylic acid (70), R, - Rj = H, can be also obtained from decarboxylation of 2,5-thiazole dicarboxylic acids. 

Practically all pyridazine-carboxylic and -polycarboxylic acids undergo decarboxylation when heated above 200 °C. As the corresponding products are usually isolated in high yields, decarboxylation is frequently used as the best synthetic route for many pyridazine and pyridazinone derivatives. For example, pyridazine-3-carboxylic acid eliminates carbon dioxide when heated at reduced pressure to give pyridazine in almost quantitative yield, but pyridazine is obtained in poor yield from pyridazine-4-carboxylic acid. Decarboxylation is usually carried out in acid solution, or by heating dry silver salts, while organic bases such as aniline, dimethylaniline and quinoline are used as catalysts for monodecarboxylation of pyridazine-4,5-dicarboxylic acids. 

The best way to make pyrimidine in quantity is from 1,1,3,3-tetraethoxypropane (or other such acetal of malondialdehyde) and formamide, by either a continuous (58CB2832) or a batch process (57CB942). Other practical ways to make small amounts in the laboratory are thermal decarboxylation of pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (744), prepared by oxidation of 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine (59JCS525), or hydrogenolysis of 2,4-dichloropyrimidine over palladium-charcoal in the presence of magnesium oxide (53JCS1646). 

Reaction of 1,2 -dicarboxylic acids has been used for the formation of a number of strained alkenes and also applied to the Diels-Alder addition products from maleic anhydride (Table 9.5). Both cis- and tr s-diacids take part in the process. Aqueous pyridine containing, triethylamine as a strong base, is considered the best solvent and higher yields are obtained at temperatures of around 80 "C [130]. Use of a divided cell avoids a possibility of electrocatalytic hydrogenation of the product at the cathode. The addition of /a/-butylhydroquinone as a radical scavenger prevents polymerization of the product [127], An alternative chemical decarboxylation process is available which uses lead tetraacetate [131] but problems can arise because of reaction between the alkene and lead tetraacetate. 

Bipyridine was first prepared one hundred years ago by the permanganate oxidation of 1,7-phenanthroline (42) to the dicarboxylic acid 43, followed by decarboxylation. Modifications of this method have been used. 2,3 -Bipyridine is among the products obtained from... 

Bipyridine (4) was first prepared in 1883 by the permanganate oxidation of 4,7-phenanthroline, followed by decarboxylation of the resultant dicarboxylic acid. Chromium trioxide may be used in the oxidation step. This method, sometimes with modifications, has been used on several occasions to prepare 3,3 -bipyridine and substituted 3,3 -bipyridines from the appropriate 4,7-phenanthroline " or 5,6-dihydro-4,7-phenanthroline. Closely related syntheses include the formation of... 

The photochemical and thermal stabilities of Ru complexes have been investigated in detail [8,153-156]. For example, it has been reported that the NCS ligand of the N3 dye, cri-Ru(II)(dcbpy)2(NCS)2 (dcbpy = 2,2 -bipyridyl-4,4 -dicarboxylic acid), is oxidized to produce a cyano group (—CN) under irradiation in methanol solution. It was measured by both ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) [8,153]. In addition, the intensity of the infrared (IR) absorption peak attributed to the NCS ligand starts to decrease at 135°C, and decarboxylation of N3 dyes occurs at temperatures above 180°C [155]. Desorption of the dye from the 2 surface has been observed at temperatures above 200°C. 

Very little work has been done on fluoro derivatives of thiophenes. 2-Fluorothiophene was obtained in low yield from treatment of 2-iodothiophene with arsenic trifluoride. The action of fluoroboric acid on thiophenediazonium salts was unsuccessful. It may be useful for the preparation of 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-fluorobenzo[6]thiophenes from the appropriate amines. However, these are more conveniently prepared from fluorine-substituted benzenethiols by ring-closure reactions. For example 4,5,6,7-tetrafluorobenzo[6 Jthiophene was obtained by decarboxylation of the corresponding 2,3-dicarboxylic acid (equation 99) prepared by condensation of pentafluorobenzenethiol with diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (Section 3.15.3.4.1). 2-Fluorothiophene has been prepared from 2-thienyllithium using perchloryl fluoride, and 2-fluorobenzo[ Jthiophene from the 2-lithio derivative in a similar manner (Section 3.14.3.9.1). 

Carbon-carbon bond formation /3 to sulfur is little known for the monocycles, again perhaps because of poor accessibility of precursors, but is very common for the preparation of thiochromanones. Frequently, a dicarboxylic acid or ester is cydized under basic conditions, and decarboxylation affords the keto compound, from which the unsubstituted system may readily be obtained (76JCS(P1)749). A more modern reaction is shown in equation (81) (73TL4315). Me... 

Only the 1-benzyl-vic-triazole, crysts(from eth at 20°), mp 61°, appears to have been prepd and reported in the literature. Curtius Raschig(Ref 2) prepd 1-benzyl-vic-triazole by the reaction of benzyl azide with the methyl ester of acetylene-dicarboxylic acid, followed by sapon and decarboxylation. Wiley et al(Ref 3) prepd the compd directly and in better yield from acetylenedicar-boxylic acid, followed by decarboxylation to 1 -benzyl-vic-triaZole(77% yield)... 

Aminobenzo[6]thiophene-2-carhoxylic acids are conveniently obtained by reduction of the corresponding nitro compound.152,185,333, 334,33c, 338,497 Djazotization of these, followed by the usual replacement reactions of the diazonium group, provides many substituted benzo[6]thiophene-2-carboxylic acids, decarboxylation of which leads to some otherwise rather inaccessible benzo[6]thiophenes. 5-Hydroxy-benzo[6]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid is most conveniently prepared from the corresponding amino compound by means of the Bucherer reaction,338,497 in which the dicarboxylic acid (303) is formed as a by-product.152... 

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