Efficient photodecarboxylation of aroyl-substituted phenylacetic acids in aqueous solution: a general photochemical reaction

Photolysis (254–350 nm) of a variety of aroyl-substituted phenylacetic acids and p-acetylphenylacetic acid in aqueous solution at pH > pKa resulted in efficient photodecarboxylation (Φ = 0.2–0.7), to give in most cases a single product arising via the corresponding arylmethyl carbanion, indicating that photodecarboxylation is an efficient and general reaction for these types of compounds.