Copper‐Mediated Decarboxylative Coupling of Benzamides with ortho ‐Nitrobenzoic Acids by Directed C−H Cleavage

A copper‐mediated decarboxylative coupling of benzamides with ortho ‐nitrobenzoic acids by 8‐aminoquinoline‐directed C−H cleavage has been developed. This reaction proceeds smoothly with only a copper salt to produce the corresponding biaryl compounds in good yields. The products can be easily transformed into various nitrogen‐containing heterocyclic compounds. Moreover, the combination of copper and a suitable base promotes a decarboxylative C−H arylation and cyclization sequence to deliver phenanthridinone derivatives in one pot.