Palladium-catalyzed regioselective decarboxylative alkylation of arenes and heteroarenes with aliphatic carboxylic acids.

An unprecedented Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed decarboxylative alkylation of unactivated arenes, with aliphatic carboxylic acids as inexpensive alkyl sources, is reported. The alkylation, controlled by the directing group, is regioselective, shows high functional group tolerance, and provides mild access to alkylated indolines, 2-phenylpyridines, and azobenzenes under solvent-free conditions in moderate to high yields.