Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Decarboxylation ester to alcohol autoclave.

mrwintergreen - 11-11-2017 at 11:45

Ok, trying to find the patent i figure i ask here,


carboxylic ethyl ester is placed in autoclave by some ethyl formate and nickel metal and heated to 200 celsius for 4 hours,

leaving alcohol

Any thoughts about this?


[Edited on 11-11-2017 by mrwintergreen]

[Edited on 11-11-2017 by mrwintergreen]

Sigmatropic - 11-11-2017 at 12:01

Have not heard of anything even close to this. What kind of Carboxylic acids are we talking about? Aromatic? Closest thing would be the Letts nitrile synthesis but as far as I know esters do not typically undergo decarboxylation.

mrwintergreen - 11-11-2017 at 12:26

Original patent was something like halogenated piperidine-isopentanecarboxylic ethyl ester, i do not remember excactly.

[Edited on 11-11-2017 by mrwintergreen]

[Edited on 11-11-2017 by mrwintergreen]