Graphite-supported ketodecarboxylation of carboxylic diacids

Thermal decarboxylative cyclization of several carboxylic diacids supported on graphite gave the corresponding five- and six-membered cycloalkanones i n high yields. The process took advantage of the retention of diacid on gra phite, even for high temperature experiments (450 degreesC), which avoid it s vaporization. Moreover, the addition of catalyst is useless, the iron-con taining inclusions present on graphite play this function. The reactions we re also realized under microwave irradiation.