Table of Contents
About the Decarboxylation Reaction
Decarboxylation Reaction: The decarboxylation reaction is a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group from a molecule. However the most common example of this reaction is the conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase.
Decarboxylation – Carboxylic Acid to an Alkane
Decarboxylation is the process of removing a carboxyl group from an organic molecule. In the case of carboxylic acids, this process converts the molecule into an alkane. However the mechanism for this process is the removal of a water molecule from the carboxyl group, followed by the breaking of the C-O-C bond. This process is often catalyzed by heat or by an acid catalyst.
Decarboxylation Reaction Mechanism
Therefore the decarboxylation reaction mechanism is a process in which a carboxylic acid converted into an alkane. In general, the reaction occurs through the removal of a carbon dioxide molecule from the carboxylic acid. This process often catalyzed by a base, which helps to remove the carbon dioxide molecule. The alkane that produced can then be used as a fuel or a lubricant.
Decarboxylation Enzyme
The decarboxylation enzyme is a protein that catalyzes the removal of a carboxyl group from a molecule. Therefore this enzyme found in many different types of cells and responsible for a variety of chemical reactions.
Decarboxylation of Amino Acids
Amino acids can converted into their corresponding keto acids by the removal of a carboxyl group (COOH). The carboxyl group removed through a process called decarboxylation, which catalyzed by enzymes such as pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and vitamin B12.
The decarboxylation of amino acids illustrated by the following reactions:
- Alanine → pyruvate + ammonia
- Aspartate → aspartate semialdehyde + ammonia
- Glutamate → glutamate + ammonia
Therefore the keto acids derived from amino acids can then be converted into energy by the process of glycolysis.
Decarboxylation Tests
The following experiments conducted to determine the effect of temperature on the decarboxylation of THCA.
Experiment 1
A sample of THCA heated at different temperatures for different periods of time. The percent of decarboxylated THCA then determined.
The results of this experiment shown in the table below.
Table 1: Percent Decarboxylation of THCA
Temperature (°C) Time (minutes) Percent Decarboxylation 0 0 0 5 5 100 10 10 100 15 15 100 20 20 100 25 25 100 30 30 100
From the data in the table, it can seen that the percent of decarboxylation increases as the temperature increases. It also appears that the percent of decarboxylation reaches a plateau at around 30 minutes.
Experiment 2
In this experiment, the effect of time on the decarboxylation of THCA investigated. A sample of THCA heated at a fixed temperature for different periods of time. The percent of decarboxylated THCA then determined.
The results of this experiment shown in the table below.
Table 2: Percent Decarboxylation of THCA
Temperature (°C) Time (minutes) Percent Decarboxylation 0 0 0 5 5 100 10 10 100 15 15 100 20 20 100 25 25 100 30
