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Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
Published on: May 22, 2016
Visible light promoted continuous flow photocyclization of 1,2-diketones
Francesco Secci1, Stefania Porcu, Alberto Luridiana
1Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, S.S. 554, bivio per Sestu, 09042, Monserrato (Ca), Italy. fsecci@unica.it.
Abstract:
The continuous flow Norrish-Yang photocyclization of 1,2-diketones has been developed and used for the synthesis of a large number of functionalized 2-hydroxycyclobutanones, under blue light irradiation and employing acetone as a solvent. This eco-friendly procedure represents a valid alternative to the reactions carried out in batches thus reducing the reaction times, the formation of secondary products and simplifying the purification steps. The use of differently substituted diketone compounds has allowed us to obtain a wide range of 2 and 3-functionalized cyclobutanones, thus allowing the evaluation of the scope and limitations of this procedure.
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