The present invention concerns a process for arylating or vinylating or alkynating a nucleophilic compound. More particularly, the invention concerns arylating nitrogen-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 ligand comprising at least one imine function and at least one supplemental nitrogen atom as the chelating atoms.