Aromatic aldehydes (ArCHO: quinoline-8-carbaldehyde and o-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzaldehyde) react with tertachloropalladate(II) through a C–H activation reaction to give the corresponding aroylpalladium complexes, which afford α-keto amides () in high yields upon carbonylation with piperidine. Attempts for double carbonylation through orthopalladation reactions of aromatic hydrocarbons are also reported.