A general methodology “malonic ester amide synthesis” has been demonstrated, which uses α-substituted/unsubstituted diethyl malonates for the decarboxylative acylation of various aromatic/heteroaromatic primary/secondary amines to form one-carbon homologated amides, thus providing easy access to amides with odd/even chain lengths and an array of substituents on the alkyl/aryl part while avoiding use of acyl chlorides or peptide coupling reagents.
