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.