Unprecedented ortho-acylation of azoxybenzenes with α-oxocarboxylic acids by Pd-catalyzed C-H activation and decarboxylation.

A palladium-catalyzed ortho-acylation reaction of azoxybenzenes with α-oxocarboxylic acids was developed in the presence of K2S2O8. The established methodology provides a direct approach to obtain acylated azoxybenzenes in good yields.