Dekarboksüülimine

Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from a molecule by releasing carbon dioxide. This process typically occurs when a carboxylic acid is heated, although it can also be induced by enzymes or other chemical catalysts. The carboxyl group, which has the formula -COOH, is essentially replaced by a hydrogen atom. The products of decarboxylation are a molecule that is one carbon atom shorter than the original carboxylic acid and a molecule of carbon dioxide.

This reaction is important in various biological and chemical processes. For example, in the citric acid cycle, a key metabolic pathway, decarboxylation reactions are used to break down glucose and other organic molecules to generate energy. In organic chemistry, decarboxylation is a useful method for synthesizing new compounds by reducing the carbon chain length. Certain types of polymers also undergo decarboxylation during their formation or degradation. The ease with which a carboxyl group is removed can vary depending on the structure of the molecule. For instance, beta-keto acids are particularly prone to decarboxylation.