Effect of copper salts on hydrothermal oxidative decarboxylation: a study of phenylacetic acid†
Abstract
Decarboxylation of carboxylic acids is favored under hydrothermal conditions, and can be influenced by dissolved metals. Here, we use phenylacetic acid as a model compound to study its hydrothermal decarboxylation in the presence of copper(II) salts but no O2. Our results showed a strong oxidizing role of copper in facilitating oxidative decarboxylation.