A silica-supported bidentate arsine palladium complex has been prepared from 4-oxa-6,7-dichloroheptyltriethoxysilane via immobilization on fumed silica. followed by reacting with potassium diphenylarsenide in THF and then the reaction with palladium chloride. This polymeric arsine palladium complex is an efficient catalyst for Heck carbonylation of aryl iodides and activated aryl bromides under atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide and can be recovered and reused. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.