The Barton decarboxylation is a radical reaction in which a carboxylic acid is first converted to a thiohydroxamate ester (commonly referred to as a Barton ester). The product is then heated in the presence of a radical initiator and a suitable hydrogen donor to complete the reductive decarboxylation of the initial carboxylic acid. Using this reaction it is possible to remove a carboxylic acid moiety from an alkyl group and replace it with other functional groups.
