Various primary and secondary amines, including amino acid methyl esters, were used as nucleophiles in palladium-catalysed aminocarbonylation of 2-iodopyridine, 3-iodopyridine and iodopyrazine. N-Substituted nicotinamides and 3-pyridyl-glyoxylamides (2-oxo-carboxamide type derivatives) of potential biological importance can be obtained from 3-iodopyridine as a result of simple and double carbon monoxide insertions, respectively. The latter examples can be obtained in synthetically acceptable yields by using elevated carbon monoxide pressure. On the contrary, N-alkyl/aryl-carboxamides were obtained exclusively in the whole pressure range by using 2-iodopyridine and iodopyrazine.