Rapid and efficient oxidative decarboxylation of carboxylic acids with sodium periodate catalyzed by manganese (III) Schiff base complexes.

Rapid and efficient oxidative decarboxylatoin of alpha-aryl carboxylic acids was observed. In the chemical system containing Mn(III)-salophen complex as catalyst, carboxylic acids are converted efficiently to the corresponding carbonyl derivatives with sodium periodate. The ability of various Schiff base complexes in the oxidative decarboxylation of carboxylic acids was also investigated.