A copper-catalyzed cascade reaction for selective aerobic oxidative C−C bond cleavage of β-alkyl nitroolefins and subsequent oxidative amidation with amines or amides was reported. The reaction all exhibited high selectivities and gave the corresponding α-ketoamides with 66–88% yields. The mechanistic study revealed that the NO2-directed aerobic oxidative C−C bond cleavage occurred on more electron-rich