Decarboxylative Alkynylation and Carbonylative Alkynylation of Carboxylic Acids Enabled by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis†

Visible-light-induced photocatalytic decarboxylative alkynylations of carboxylic acids have been developed for the first time. The reaction features extremely mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and avoids additional oxidants. Importantly, a decarboxylative carbonylative alkynylation has also been carried out in the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) under photocatalytic conditions, which affords valuable ynones in high yields at room temperature.