Decarboxylation

Decarboxylation as it refers to a chemical reaction in which one molecule of a carbon dioxide molecule is cleaved. By heating or by enzymatic catalysis decarboxylation is particularly easy with carboxylic acids (preferably β -keto acids or malonic acids ) take place. This was accompanied by a six-membered transition state.

With rapid heating of orsellinic produced at 176 ° C orcinol.

A key in the primary metabolism of all living beings decarboxylation is the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and α - ketoglutarate of. The former is the product that is formed at the end of glycolysis in the degradation of the glucose. Through a multi-enzyme complex, the substrates are shortened by one carbon atom, composed of many coenzymes. Same time, since two electrons are transferred to a cellular hydrogen acceptor through FAD and NAD , is why this episode oxidation by oxidative decarboxylation.

α -amino acids can be decarboxylated in the presence of catalytic amounts of cyclohexenone by heating in tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether.

The biogenic amines are formed in the metabolism through decarboxylation reactions.