The aerialoxidation of various 2,2-dibromo-1-aryl and heteroaryl ethanones to α-keto amides in the presence of air or oxygen and secondary amines are described. The reaction provides α-keto amides in moderate to good yields. The versatility of the reaction was established by synthesizing a series of α-keto amides by the reaction of dibromoethanones derived from aryl and heteroaryl ketones with cyclic