A Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of thiazoles and benzoxazole with various substituted benzoic acids is developed. The reaction is compatible with both electron-rich and electron-poor benzoic acids. It can also be extended to the synthesis of polyfluoro-substituted biaryls using polyfluorobenzenes as the starting materials.

An efficient oxidative Mannich reaction between tertiary amines and unmodified methyl ketones has been developed, using copper salts as the catalyst and O(2) as the oxidant.

Nontransition metal-catalyzed synthesis of 2-aryl benzothiazoles was achieved through K(2)S(2)O(8)-mediated oxidative condensation of benzothiazoles with aryl aldehydes. The same transformation can also be effected when the aryl aldehydes were replaced with phenylglyoxylic acids.

A novel way of synthesizing anthranilic esters was developed via Pd-catalyzed dehydrogenative/decarbonylative coupling between anilides and glyoxylates.

By carefully choosing the right substrate ratio, catalyst combination, and base, symmetrical and unsymmetrical biaryls can be readily synthesized through the Pd‐catalyzed decarboxylative homo‐ and heterocoupling of substituted benzoic acids. The reaction gave the desired products in 40–90 % yield and is compatible with 2‐nitro‐, 2‐methoxy‐, 2‐fluoro‐, and 2‐chloro‐substituted benzoic acids.