The direct conversion of aliphatic carboxylic acids to their dehomologated carbonyl analogues has been accomplished through photocatalytic decarboxylative oxygenation. This transformation is applicable to an array of carboxylic acid motifs, producing ketones, aldehydes, and amides in excellent yields. Preliminary results demonstrate that this methodology is further amenable to aldehyde substrates via in situ oxidation to the corresponding acid and subsequent decarboxylative oxygenation. We have exploited this strategy for the sequential oxidative dehomologation of linear aliphatic chains.
