Studies in decarboxylation. Part 13. The incursion of a stepwise mechanism in the gas-phase decarboxylation of cyclopropylacetic acids

Abstract

The cyclopropylacetic acids (I)–(IV) have been decarboxylated in the temperature range 720–820 K. It is demonstrated that at 725 K, 2′,2′-dimethylcyclopropylacetic acid is decarboxylated by both concerted and stepwise mechanisms. The latter is favoured by higher temperature. Cyclopropylacetic acid is decarboxylated by the concerted mechanism at 725 K, but also exhibits the stepwise mechanism at higher temperature.