A novel process is provided for the efficient preparation of an asymmetric compound of structural formula I: comprising a copper-catalyzed, carbon-nitrogen cross-coupling step. The process described as part of the present invention can be used to manufacture poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which may be useful for the treatment of cancer. In particular, the present invention describes a process for the manufacture of the PARP inhibitor, 2-{4-[(3S)-piperidin-3-yl]phenyl}-2H-indazole-7-carboxamide.