Question

Why beta keto carboxylic acid decarboxylate?

Answer 1

So the key to a decarboxylation reaction is having a cabonyl beta to acarboxylic acid. ... But again the key point is here's the alpha carbon and here's the beta carbon, we have a carbonyl that's beta to our carboxylic acid, and so therefore adecarboxylation reaction can take place.

Answer 2

So the key to a decarboxylationreaction is having a cabonyl beta to acarboxylic acid. So, for example, here's our carboxylic acid, and we know the carbon next to a carboxylic acid is the alpha carbon, and the carbon next to that is the beta carbon, and we saw how this carbonyl was necessary in the mechanism.