An efficient synthetic protocol for the preparation of 4-[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-ones from N-allylamides of 2-iodobenzoic acids has been performed under 100 atm of carbon monoxide. Pyridine ring formation occurs through an intramolecular Pd-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation, followed by an alkoxycarbonylation process. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)