An operationally simple and inexpensive catalyst system was developed for the cross coupling of aryl iodides and bromides with ethyl acetoacetate by using CuI as catalyst and N-methyl glycine as ligand. The reaction represents a novel Cu-catalyzed C-C cross coupling reaction. This procedure is applicable to the preparation of pharmaceutically important α-arylalkanoic acids. An operationally simple and inexpensive catalyst system was developed for the cross coupling of aryl iodides and bromides with ethyl acetoacetate by using CuI as catalyst and N-methyl glycine as ligand. The reaction represents a novel Cu-catalyzed CC cross coupling reaction. This procedure is applicable to the preparation of pharmaceutically important α-arylalkanoic acids.