A practical, simple, and efficient manganese-catalysed oxidation of C(sp 2 )ÀH bond in readily available b-carbonylenehydrazine under aerobic conditions has been developed. This protocol exhibits a wide range of functional group tolerance in b-carbonylenehydrazines to afford a,b-dicarbonylhydrazones. Experimental and theoretical results suggest that the reaction very likely proceeds through a radical pathway via a hydrogen-atom-transfer process promoted by a Mn III species.[ a] Reaction conditions: catalyst: Mn(OAc) 2 · 4H 2 O (0.0125 mmol), b-keto-enehydrazine (0.5 mmol), solvent: EtOH (10 mL), oxidant: O 2 (1 atm), t = 18 h, T = 60 8C. [b] Isolated yield. [c] Yield determined by NMR.