The double-carbonylation reaction of alkenyl halides with diethylamine in the presence of palladium catalysts has been examined in detail. The reaction gives α-keto amide together with amide, the single-carbonylation by-product. The yield of α-keto amide is strongly dependent on the nature of alkenyl halide. Alkenyl bromides or iodides having phenyl group (s) as substituent (s) on the vinyl group are successfully double-carbonylated under ...