title: New methodology toward α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids from saturated acids.
abstract: A carefully designed three-step unsaturation of carboxylic acids is described. Briefly, carboxylic acids were converted to the trifluoromethyl ketone. Subsequent treatment with selenium dioxide followed by hydrolysis afforded α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids. The mechanism of the reported transformation was investigated, which led us to propose a novel explanation featuring selenium dioxide assisted enolizaion of a trifluoromethyl ketone followed by β-deprotonation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University , 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States.
authors.forename: Qingjiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tochtrop