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≡C—R1 wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, in the presence of an effective amount of a phosphine-free, oxime-free palladium catalyst; (C1-C4)alkyl N+(−OAc) or an alkali metal carbonate, to yield a compound of the formula Ar—C≡C—R1, wherein the reaction is carried out in the absence of an organic amine or copper(I).