13.16 : Loss of Carboxy Group as CO₂: Decarboxylation of β-Ketoacids

Carboxylic acids, upon heating, undergo a decarboxylation reaction by releasing carbon dioxide gas. Monocarboxylic acids do not undergo decarboxylation easily. However, a silver salt of carboxylic acidreacts with bromine or iodine under high temperature to release carbon dioxide gas and forms halidewith one less carbon. This reaction is called the Hunsdiecker reaction.

Unlike monocarboxylic acids, ꞵ-keto acids bearing a keto group at the β position to the carboxyl group, readily undergo decarboxylation under an acid medium to form a ketone and releases carbon dioxide gas.

Decarboxylation reaction is biologically relevant while oxidizing food materials in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In this cycle, oxalosuccinic acid is formed as an intermediate that bears three carboxyl groups and one carbonyl group. However, as the carbonyl group is at the ꞵ-position to only one carboxyl group, only one of the three carboxyl groups undergoes decarboxylation to produce α-ketoglutaric acid by losing CO₂.