Expedient Ni-catalyzed C-H/C-H cross-dehydrogenative coupling of aryl amides with azoles.

A nickel-catalyzed C-H heteroarylation of arenes has been described using a removable oxazoline-aniline derived directing group. Utilization of an inexpensive nickel(II)-catalyst, substrate scope, functional group diversity and late-stage functionalization of xanthine-derived commercial drugs are the important practical features.