Reduction and decarboxylation of carboxylic acids

Carboxylic acids are reduced to form what?

Primary alcohols + water

What reagents / conditions are used to reduced carboxylic acids to primary alcohols?

A reducing agent is used- LiAlH₄ dissolved in ethoxyethane.

This is a much stronger reducing agent and has the ability to oxidise aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids.

What is decarboxylation?

Decarboxylation is the removal of carbon dioxide from a compound.

Carboxylic acids, RCOOH, are decarboxylated to leave the corresponding alkane, RH.

What reagent is used in decarboxylation reactions?

Soda lime- NaOH (s)

Describe what happens in a decarboxylation reaction.

• The carboxylic acid or its sodium salt is heated with soda lime.

• A hydrocarbon is produced that contains one less carbon atom in the chain than the starting acid.