The results from a direct palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between a variety of olefins with acrylate through vinylic C–H activation that give the corresponding butadienes in moderate to good yields and stereoselectivities are reported. Given the reaction's ability to tolerate a wide range of styrenes, aliphatic alkenes and acrylates, this atom- and step-economical methodology offers a straightforward method to forge new C–C bonds of the valuable diene products from readily available starting materials under very mild reaction conditions.