The direct carbonylative palladium catalyzed synthesis of monoprotected 1,3-ketoaldehydes is reported starting from aryl iodides applying near stoichiometric amounts of carbon monoxide. Besides representing platforms for a variety of heterocyclic structures, these motives serve as viable precursors for the highly relevant aryl methyl ketones. The presented strategy can also be adapted for the facile and efficient incorporation of (13)C-labeled carbon monoxide.