The efficiency of various heterogeneous solids consisting of palladium supported on hydrotalcite as catalysts in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between bromobenzene and phenylboronic acid was studied. Based on the catalytic activity results, the reaction develops to an acceptable extent with 100% selectivity at moderate temperatures in the presence of some of the catalysts. The best results were provided by a catalyst consisting of an acetate-pyridine complex of Pd supported on hydrotalcite that gave high conversion values even after three reuses. The reactions conditions were very mild (a temperature of 55 degrees C and atmospheric pressure). In fact. the catalyst provided conversion and selectivity results surpassing those of existing heterogeneous phase catalysts and most homogeneous phase catalysts for the same purpose. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc, All rights reserved.