Hunsdiecker Reaction

The silver(I) salts of carboxylic acids react with halogens to give unstable intermediates which readily decarboxylate thermally to yield alkyl halides. The reaction is believed to involve homolysis of the C-C bond and a radical chain mechanism.

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Mechanism of the Hunsdiecker Reaction

Recent Literature

Silver-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Bromination of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids

Silver-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Chlorination of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids

Catalytic Hunsdiecker Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids: How Efficient Is the Catalyst?

Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)-β-Arylvinyl Bromides by Microwave-Induced Hunsdiecker-Type Reaction