Mild, visible light-mediated decarboxylation of aryl carboxylic acids to access aryl radicals

Abstract

Herein we present the first example of aryl radical formation <i>via</i> the visible light-mediated decarboxylation of aryl carboxylic acids using photoredox catalysis. This method constitutes a mild protocol for the decarboxylation of cheap and abundant aryl carboxylic acids and tolerates both electron-rich substrates and those lacking <i>ortho</i>-substitution. The <i>in situ</i> formation of an acyl hypobromite is proposed to prevent unproductive hydrogen atom abstraction and trapping of the intermediate aroyloxy radical, enabling mild decarboxylation.