Carbonylation reactions allow the efficient synthesis of all kinds of carbonyl-containing compounds.H ere,w e report as traightforwards ynthesis of various imides from olefins and CO for the first time.T he established hydroamidocarbonylation reaction affords imides in good yields (up to 90 %) and with good regioselectivity (up to 99:1) when applying different alkenes and amides.The synthetic potential of the method is highlighted by the synthesis of Aniracetam by intramolecular hydroamidocarbonylation.Carbonylation reactions using carbon monoxide (CO) as one of the cheapest and most flexible C1 building blocks continues to attract significant interest in organic synthesis and from industrial chemists.[1] In terms of production scale, carbonylation reactions nowadays constitute the largest industrial applications in the area of homogeneous catalysis. [2] In addition to the well-known Monsanto [3] or Cativa process [4] which produce acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol, carbonylative transformations of simple alkenes have been shown to be core processes in industry for the production of esters (alkoxycarbonylation) [5] and aldehydes (hydroformylation).[6] However,t he related synthesis of more value added amides (aminocarbonylations) from simple alkene has been less explored. [7] In this respect, our research group recently reported ag eneral aminocarbonylation of alkenes by using ap alladium catalyst system.[7b] Thea minocarbonylation of various conjugated dienes to synthesize the corresponding b,g-unsaturated amide was also developed.[7d] Notably,a ll these reactions proceed with high atom economy. [8] Apart from amides,i mides also constitute an important organic moiety in fine chemicals.F or example,t etraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) is used on multi-10 000 ton scale as ap eroxide bleach activator in detergents.M oreover,t his functional group is used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals as well as agrochemicals and various bioactive molecules.A s shown in Scheme 1, selected examples include Diacetazotol (Dermagan), which stimulates wound epithelization, Formothion, asystemic and contact insecticide,T halidomide,which shows antiangiogenic and antineoplastic properties,Pecilocin, with antifungal activity,a nd the anxiolytic drug Aniracetam (Ampamet). [9] Ty pical syntheses of imides proceed by the nucleophilic substitution of activated carboxylic acid derivatives,f or example,a cid chlorides or anhydrides,w ith amides in the presence of base under carefully controlled conditions.[10] The selective oxidation of amides to imides is also known in afew cases. [11] Compared to the existing methods,t he direct carbonylation of easily available olefins to imides would be advantageous with respect to waste formation and step economy (100 %atom efficiency). Based on our continued interest and experience in carbonylation reactions,w ee nvisioned and started to explore the synthesis of imides from alkenes and amides.[12] Herein, we report an ovel palladium-catalyzed hydroamidocarbonylation of alken...