Transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of amines with carboxylic acids can form C–C bonds, providing an alternative to traditional amide bond formation. Amines and carboxylic acids are broadly available building blocks, and the Cernak lab has developed new ways to couple them to form C–C bonds, instead of amides.1,2 Depending on the nature of the amine and acid (aryl or alkyl), different activation strategy or different additives can be used to favor C–C bond formation through deamination and decarboxylation or decarbonylation. The amines are generally activated as pyridinium salts,3 with activation of alkyl acids as redox active esters4 or N-acyl-glutarimides.5