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.