The invention provides a preparation method of alpha, beta-unsaturated
carboxylic acid compounds. The method is characterized in that compounds represented by formula (I) react with
formic acid in the presence of a
nickel-containing catalyst, a
phosphine ligand and an
organic solvent to obtain the alpha, beta-unsaturated
carboxylic acid compounds represented by formula (II), wherein R1 and R2 are respectively independently selected from H, C1-C30
alkyl groups, C1-C30 substituted
alkyl groups, C1-C30 alkenyl groups, C1-C30 substituted alkenyl groups, C6-C30
aryl groups and C6-C30 substituted
aryl groups. Compared with the prior art, the method adopting
formic acid as a
carboxylation reagent has the advantages of low price, safety, stability,
low toxicity, high yield, simple operation, good economy, avoiding of use of
precious metal catalysts and
toxic gas carbon monoxide, meeting of requirements of
environmentally friendly compounds, wide
function group compatibility, high conversion rate and industrial synthesis values.