Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025

Retropinacol/Cross-pinacol Coupling Reactions - A Catalytic Access to 1,2-Unsymmetrical Diols
Published on: April 4, 2014
Photocatalytic Decarboxylative Coupling of Arylacetic Acids with Aromatic Aldehydes
Ge Liu1,2, Yuzhen Gao2, Weiping Su1,2
1College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou350116, China.
Abstract:
An efficient protocol was proposed for the preparation of secondary alcohols in good to excellent yields via photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative couplings between readily available arylacetic acids and a variety of less reactive (hetero)aromatic aldehydes. The formation of carbanion is the key intermediate in this reaction. Various substituted arylacetic acids and aldehydes were all compatible with this transformation under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the current protocol was successfully applied to the direct alcoholization of several drug acids.
Related Concept Videos
Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Friedel–Crafts Acylation of Benzene
Alkenes via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: McMurry Reaction
Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation
The carbonyl center is...
Preparation of Carboxylic Acids: Overview
Aryldiazonium Salts to Azo Dyes: Diazo Coupling

