Aldehydes and ketones formation: copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative decarboxylation of phenylacetic acids and α-hydroxyphenylacetic acids.

Aromatic aldehydes or ketones from copper catalyzed aerobic oxidative decarboxylation of phenylacetic acids and α-hydroxyphenylacetic acids have been synthesized. This reaction combined decarboxylation, dioxygen activation, and C-H bond oxidation steps in a one-pot protocol with molecular oxygen as the sole terminal oxidant. This reaction represents a novel decarboxylation of an sp(3)-hybridized carbon and the use of a benzylic carboxylic acid as a source of carbonyl compounds.