We describe here a novel procedure for the synthesis of highly substituted 2-quinolinones. By this newly developed approach, 2-quinolinone derivatives were prepared in moderate to good yields by carbonylative cyclization of N-aryl-pyridine-2-amines and internal alkynes by C-H activation. Remarkably, [Mo(CO)6] was applied as a solid CO source and the reaction proceeded in an atom economic manner. © 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA,Weinheim.