Cellulose supported copper nanoparticles as a versatile and efficient catalyst for the protodecarboxylation and oxidative decarboxylation of aromatic acids under microwave heating

• Cellulose supported Cu NP is an efficient catalyst for decarboxylation reactions.
• No nitrogenated ligands or bases were required.
• High yield, short reaction time and catalyst recyclability
• Reactions were performed in acetonitrile or water.
• Reactions were carried out in microwave heating.

Cellulose supported copper-nanoparticles is a versatile catalyst for the protodecarboxylation of aromatic and vinylic carboxylic acids to corresponding arenes and alkenes without using base or ligand is disclosed. The same nanoparticles catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of phenylacetic acids to aromatic aldehydes in oxygen atmosphere and protodecarboxylation of phenylacetic acid to alkyl benzene in the absence of O2 atmosphere. Decarboxylation reactions were performed in acetonitrile or water solvent under microwave heating. The conditions are mild enough to tolerate a wide range of different functional groups. The catalyst gives high yield and it is reusable up to four times, and hence green.