Vinylmercuric chlorides readily react with rhodium (1) and rhodium (II1) catalysts and carbon monoxide to give excellent yields of divinyl ketones. The best reaction conditions are 0.5 mol%[Rh (CO), Cl], and 2 equiv of lithium chloride under 1 atm of carbon monoxide at room temperature. This rhodium catalyst also provides improved yields of diary1 ketones from arylmercurials at 70" C under 1000-1500 psi of carbon monoxide pressure. ...