Decarboxylationthe

Decarboxylation is the chemical process by which a carboxyl group is removed from a molecule as carbon dioxide. In organic chemistry, decarboxylation typically occurs when carboxylic acids or their derivatives are heated or treated with catalysts, producing products that are shortened by one carbon atom. Common examples include the spontaneous decarboxylation of beta-keto acids to yield ketones and the decarboxylation of malonic acid derivatives to form substituted acetones or alkanes after rearrangement. Nonenzymatic decarboxylation can also occur in solution under acidic or basic conditions, sometimes used as a step in synthetic sequences or in the degradation of pollutants.

In biochemistry, decarboxylation reactions are widespread and are catalyzed by decarboxylase enzymes. These enzymes often rely on cofactors such as pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) or metal ions. Examples include amino acid decarboxylases that convert amino acids to amines, such as glutamate decarboxylase producing GABA, and pyruvate decarboxylase in fermentation that converts pyruvate to acetaldehyde with CO2 release. Oxidative decarboxylation couples decarboxylation to electron transfer, as seen in the pyruvate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase reactions of cellular respiration, which release CO2 while reducing NAD+ or NADP+.

Applications and significance: decarboxylation is a key step in organic synthesis, metabolism, and food processing. In cannabis science, decarboxylation converts acidic precursors like THCA and CBDA into their active forms, THC and CBD, upon heating. Understanding decarboxylation helps explain energy production, synthetic planning, and the activation of certain compounds.