Nickel-catalyzed decarboxylative acylation of heteroarenes by sp ² C-H functionalization

Nickel-catalyzed ligand-free decarboxylative cross-coupling of azole derivatives with α-oxoglyoxylic acids has been developed. This work represents the first example of decarboxylative cross-coupling reactions, in a C-H bond functionalization manner, through nickel catalysis, and tolerates various functional groups. Additionally, this approach provides an efficient access to azole ketones, an important structural motif in many medicinal compounds with a broad range of biological activities.