A method is provided to couple an aryl halide to an alkyne comprising reacting a compound of the formula ArX, wherein Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group and X is I or Br, with a compound of the formula HC.ident.C--R.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, in the presence of an effective amount of a phosphine-free, oxime-free palladium catalyst; (C.sub.1-C.sub.4)alkyl N.sup.+(.sup.-OAc) or an alkali metal carbonate, to yield a compound of the formula Ar--C.ident.C--R.sup.1, wherein the reaction is carried out in the absence of an organic amine or copper(I).