Photocatalytic Hydrodecarboxylation of Fatty Acids for Drop‐in Biofuels Production

A mild, practical, and environmentally friendly method for the hydrodecarboxylation of fatty acids using an acridine‐based photoredox catalyst and thiophenol was developed. C n‐1 alkanes were synthesized in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) from C10−C18 saturated fatty acids under visible light irradiation (405 nm). The developed protocol was employed for a mixture of fatty acids obtained from the hydrolysis of Licuri oil, affording a mixture of C9−C17 hydrocarbons in quantitative yield, which demonstrates the potential application of the method to produce drop‐in biofuels.