Direct site-selective arylation of enamides via a decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction.

An efficient Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction of simple enamides was achieved. Depending on the choice of the nitrogen-protecting group, a site-selective synthesis of mono- or diarylated framework(s) was performed under mild conditions. This unprecedented reactivity could be applied to the synthesis of a range of 2- or 2,4-diarylated nitrogen-containing bioactive derivatives.