Decarboxylative acylation of cyclic enamides with α-oxocarboxylic acids by palladium-catalyzed C-H activation at room temperature

An efficient catalytic decarboxylative acylation of unactivated sp ² (alkenyl) C-H bonds has been developed. Various substituted α-oxocarboxylic acids with different electronic properties react under mild conditions to afford a diverse range of β-acyl enamide products in good yields. The reaction is proposed to proceed via a cyclic vinylpalladium intermediate, facilitating the decarboxylative dehydrogenative process with enamide coupling partners.