DECARBOXYLATION:
This is an important mechanism in most ochem two classes. Decarboxylation is what it sounds like- the removal of a carboxyl group. A fun example of where this mechanism is commonly used is the conversion of THCA (the inactive compound in marijuana) into THC (the active compound in marijuana). This decarboxylation takes place under applied heat, hence why weed must be burned or baked to receive its maximum effects.
I am going to give a step-by-step description of how the decarboxylation in the third image works.
1. First the molecule orients in a way that will allow the OH group on the carboxyl to associate with the carbonyl
2. The carbonyl double bond attacks the hydrogen. This breaks the carbonyl bond. The electron shared with the hydrogen is pulled back into a double bond with that carbon. That creates the CO2 molecule!
***The carbonyl bond was very stable, thus heat needed to be applied to break it***
3. The alcohol that formed is attached to the double bond that formed. Is this a stable formation? NO! This is called an enol. An enol will never be your final product because the carbon-oxygen association is tooooo strong. So we need to form that carbonyl--- the electrons on the oxygen will push down and the double bond will attack any available hydrogen.
Thats it! you have decarboxylated your molecule.
