Efficient Iridium-Catalyzed Decarbonylation Reaction of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids Leading to Internal or Terminal Alkenes

Abstract

Vaska’s complex, IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2, when combined with KI as an additive, served as an excellent catalyst for the decarbonylation of long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids to give internal alkenes with high selectivity. On combination with KI and Ac2O as additives under controlled temperatures, decarbonylation proceeded to give terminal alkenes with high selectivity.