Carboxylic Acids and their Derivatives - Result Question 5
5. The compound that undergoes decarboxylation most readily under mild condition is
(2012)
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Answer:
Correct Answer: 5. (b)
Solution:
It is a $\beta$-keto acid which undergo decarboxylation in very mild condtion, i.e. on simple heating. This occur through a six member cyclic transition state as
NOTE
- Ordinary carboxylic acid require soda-lime catalyst for decarboxylation.
- Final step of decarboxylation in the above shown mechanism involve tautomerism, therefore, for decarboxylation of $\beta$-keto acid by above mechanism, the acid must contain an $\alpha-H$.
BETA
