“…Therefore, I propose that the carboxylic acid group generated from the hydrolysis of the trifluoromethyl group can be decarboxylated to form compound 20C (Scheme 26). 97,98 Photochromic studies demonstrated that 20C can be converted to 20E (E-form because of IUPAC priority rules), but the reverse reaction was not observed (Scheme 26).…”