An　efficient　and　mild　protocol　has　been　developed　for　the　Minisci　acylation　reactions　of　nitrogen　containing　heteroarenes　with　a-keto　acids.　Distinct　from　the　conventional　Minisci　acylation　conditions,　the　chemistry　was　performed　using　non-noble　metal　Fe(II),　instead　of　expensive　Ag(I)　salt,　as　catalyst.　A　wide　range　of　substrates,　including　aliphatic　or　aromatic　alpha-keto　acids,　as　well　as　various　N-heteroarenes,　proved　to　be　compatible　with　the　protocol.　Scale-up　experiment　also　demonstrates　the　practicality　of　the　approach.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.