The present invention relates to a process for preparing aryl-aryl-coupled compounds and materials. These materials play an important role in industry, for instance as liquid crystals, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and as organic semiconductors. The aryl-aryl couplings hitherto carried out by means of Yamamoto coupling require specific additives in order to give a product suitable for the subsequent use. Particularly in the electronics industry, the Yamamoto coupling needs to meet particular requirements.