A green method for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles supported on pectin has been described. The synthesized nanoparticles were explored in Mizoroki-Heck reaction between different aryl halides and n-butyl acrylate under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst can be recycled for six runs without significant loss in the catalytic activity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.