Aerobic photo-decarboxylation of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives under visible light irradiation in the presence of catalytic iodine

A catalytic amount of iodine enables us to carry out aerobic photo-decarboxylation of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives to the corresponding carboxylic acids or ketones selectively in high yields under irradiation of vis. This new oxidation is interesting in keeping with the notion of Green Chemistry due to the non-use of heavy metals and halogenated solvents, waste reduction, and the use of molecular oxygen.