New and improved methods for the radical decarboxylation of acids

Abstract

Carboxylic acid esters derived from N-hydroxypyridine-2-thione undergo efficient radical chain decarboxylation to the corresponding nor-alkane on treatment with either tri-n-butylstannane or t-butylmercaptan; in the absence of these hydrogen atom donors a smooth decarboxylative rearrangement giving noralkyl 2-pyridyl sulphides is observed.