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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Visible-Light-Induced Regioselective Alkylation of Coumarins via Decarboxylative Coupling with N-Hydroxyphthalimide
Can Jin1, Zhiyang Yan1, Bin Sun2
1College of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Zhejiang University of Technology , Hangzhou 310014 , P. R. China.
Abstract:
An efficient photocatalytic decarboxylative 3-position alkylation of coumarins by using alkyl N-hydroxyphthalimide esters as alkylation reagents has been developed. A variety of NHP esters derived from aliphatic carboxylic acids (primary, secondary, and tertiary) has been proved to be tolerated for this decarboxylation process, affording a broad scope of 3-alkylated coumarin derivatives in moderate to excellent yields. This protocol was highlighted by its mild conditions, readily available starting materials, operational simplicity, and wide functional group tolerance.
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