Palladium substituted in cerium dioxide in the form of a solid solution, Ce0.98 Pd0.02 O1.98 is a new heterogeneous catalyst which exhibits high activity and 100% trans-selectivity for the Heck reactions of aryl bromides including heteroaryls with olefins. The catalytic reactions work without any ligand. Nanocrystalline Ce0.98 Pd0.02 O1.98 is prepared by solution combustion method and Pd is in +2 state. The catalyst can be separated, recovered and reused without significant loss in activity.
