The present invention concerns a process for arylating or vinylating or alkynating a nucleophilic compound. More particularly, the invention concerns arylating nitrogent-containing organic derivatives. The arylating or vinylating or alkynating process of the invention consists of reacting a nucleophilic compound with a compound carrying a leaving group and is characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of an effective quantity of a catalyst based on a metallic element M selected from groups (VIII), (Ib) and (IIb) of the periodic table and at least one at least bidentate ligand comprising at least two chelating atoms, namely at least one oxygen atom and at least one nitrogen atom.