Carboxylic Acids as Versatile Precursors: Advances in Decarboxylation Strategies for Modern Organic Synthesis

Carboxylic acids serve as versatile precursors in modern synthesis, leveraging decarboxylative strategies to bypass traditional reactivity patterns and facilitate the generation of high-energy intermediates. This transformative approach enables streamlined molecular assembly and enhances structural diversification through the regioselective removal of CO₂. This review provides a high-level, comprehensive synthesis of recent breakthroughs in decarboxylation, transitioning from traditional thermal methods to cutting-edge reactivity paradigms. We critically evaluate diverse catalytic systems, including transition metal-catalyzed processes (Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Ti, Ce, Ru, and In), Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings, and the burgeoning fields of organocatalysis, photoredox catalysis, and electrosynthetic mediation. Beyond a mere survey of reaction conditions, this work dissects mechanistic intricacies and addresses the inherent challenges of regioselectivity and functional group tolerance. By highlighting the assembly of complex molecular architectures from these ubiquitous precursors, this review establishes a conceptual framework intended to catalyze the next generation of innovations in decarboxylative chemistry and to inspire the discovery of novel reactivity manifolds.