Despite advances in methods for the decarbonylation of aldehydes, the decarbonylation of ketones has been met with limited success because this process requires the activation of two inert carbon-carbon bonds. All of the decarbonylation reactions of simple unstrained ketones reported to date require the addition of a stoichiometric rhodium complex. We report herein the nickel/N-heterocyclic carbene-mediated decarbonylation of simple diaryl ketones. This reaction shows unique acceleration effects based on the presence of both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups.