Photocatalytic Hydrodecarboxylation of Fatty Acids for Drop‐in Biofuels Production

Abstract

AbstractA mild, practical, and environmentally friendly method for the hydrodecarboxylation of fatty acids using an acridine‐based photoredox catalyst and thiophenol was developed. Cn‐1 alkanes were synthesized in good to excellent yields (up to 99 %) from C10−C18 saturated fatty acids under visible light irradiation (405 nm). The developed protocol was employed for a mixture of fatty acids obtained from the hydrolysis of Licuri oil, affording a mixture of C9−C17 hydrocarbons in quantitative yield, which demonstrates the potential application of the method to produce drop‐in biofuels.