MOF and Visible Light in Synergy: Decarboxylations Catalyzed by Metal–Organic Frameworks

We report the first MOF-catalyzed decarboxylation reaction driven by visible light. The Fe-O clusters in the catalyst facilitate the capture of longer-wavelength light and the extrusion of CO₂ as a benign gaseous byproduct. This method enables decarboxylative oxidations and hydroxylations requiring only an Fe-based MOF as the photocatalyst, with no need for additional oxidants, ligands, or high temperatures. Furthermore, the system's versatility is demonstrated through its ability to concurrently extrude CO₂ and CO from phenylpyruvic acid, producing benzaldehyde via a consecutive loss of two carbons.