A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative ortho acylation of azobenzenes with α-oxocarboxylic acids via ligand-directed C-H activation has been explored. The reaction proceeded smoothly with potassium persulfate as the oxidant to afford acylated unsymmetrical azobenzenes in moderate to good yields and tolerated chloro, bromo, iodo, and methoxy groups. Para, ortho, and disubstituted as well as unsymmetrical azobenzenes could be used.
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