Aqueous Photochemistry of 2-Oxocarboxylic Acids: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Atmospheric Impact

Atmospheric organic aerosols play a major role in climate, demanding a better understanding of their formation mechanisms by contributing multiphase chemical reactions with the participation of water. The sunlight driven aqueous photochemistry of small 2-oxocarboxylic acids is a potential major source of organic aerosol, which prompted the investigations into the mechanisms of glyoxylic acid and pyruvic acid photochemistry reviewed here. While 2-oxocarboxylic acids can be contained or directly created in the particles, the majorities of these abundant and available molecules are in the gas phase and must first undergo the surface uptake process to react in, and on the surface, of aqueous particles. Thus, the work also reviews the acid-base reaction that occurs when gaseous pyruvic acid meets the interface of aqueous microdroplets, which is contrasted with the same process for acetic acid. This work classifies relevant information needed to understand the photochemistry of aqueous pyruvic acid and glyoxylic acid and motivates future studies based on reports that use novel strategies and methodologies to advance this field.

The Merger of CF3SO2Na and Palladium Catalysis to Enable Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling for the Synthesis of Aromatic Ketones under Room Temperature

A CF3SO2Na/Pd(OAc)2 co-catalyzed strategy is developed to produce aryl ketones via visible-light-induced decarboxylative cross-coupling of α-oxocarboxylic acids and aryl boronic acids. This process was perfomed under air at room temperature,...

Bifunctional acidic ionic liquids-catalyzed decarboxylative cascade synthesis of quinoxalines in water under ambient conditions

An acid-functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) catalyzed cascade decarboxylative cyclization of 2-arylanilines with α-oxocarboxylic acids was developed. This approach offered a sustainable and practical pathway to afford a library of quinoxalines...

Copper-promoted synthesis of epoxy-bridged [60]fullerene-fused lactones and further derivatization

A facile copper-promoted decarboxylative annulation of [60]fullerene (C60) with two identical α-oxocarboxylic acids via an unprecedented cascade addition pathway has been exploited to synthesize the unique epoxy-bridged C60-fused lactones for...

Iridium-catalyzed stereoselective [3+2] annulation of α-oxocarboxylic acids with 1,3-dienes

Stereoselective annulation between α-oxocarboxoylic acids and 1,3-dienes proceeded in the presence of a hydroxoiridium catalyst to give α-hydroxy-γ-lactones in good yields with high 3,5-trans relative stereochemistry. The use of a...