Question
Chemistry Question on Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
The compound that undergoes decarboxylation most readily under mild condition is
A
B
C
D
Answer
Explanation
Solution
It is a β-keto acid which undergo decarboxylation in very mild condtion i.e. on simple heating. This occur through a six member cyclic transition state as Note
Ordinary carboxylic acid require soda-lime catalyst for decarboxylation.
Final step of decarboxylation in the above shown mechanism involve tautomerism, therefore, for decarboxylation of β-keto acid by above mechanism, the acid must contain an a-H],