The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between p-iodotoluene and phenylboronic acid is carried out over a series of ceria catalysts, at 150 degrees C, under N-2 atmosphere, employing DMF as the solvent. The ceria catalysts present different BET area (determined from N-2 isotherms at 77 K), different Ce4+/Ce3+ ratio (as measured by XPS), and different concentration and strength of acid sites (as measured by potentiometric titration with n-butylamine). The activity of the different samples depends on the concentration and strength of acid sites, although the participation of Ce3+ centers should not be neglected. Ceria catalysts are less active and less selective than a Pd/SiO2 sample. Although the catalytic performance of ceria catalysts is lower than the one corresponding to Pd/SiO2, the fact that a transition metal-free catalyst is active for SM reaction is highlighted. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.