Imidazole hydrochloride, a hydrochloric acid carrier, was used to mediate the decarboxylation of orthopara position amino-substituted aromatic acids and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic acids, which gave excellent yields within a short time. In addition, the method can be well adapted to a gram scale, and the imidazole hydrochloride additives can be appropriately recovered for secondary utilization. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.