Palladium-catalyzed C-H alkenylation of C-aryl N-t-butyl nitrones with ethyl acrylate produced ortho-alkenylated benzamide derivatives via isomerization of the nitrone moiety. The use of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol/acetic acid as a solvent resulted in effective C-H alkenylation, while competitive 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was completely suppressed.