Mesoporous carbon functionalized with Pd nanoparticles (Pd@MC) was synthesized via one-pot method using SBA-15, furfuryl alcohol and PdCl2 as a template, a carbon source and a palladium source, respectively. The HRTEM image shows that Pd nanoparticles are homogeneously distributed on the surface of nanoporous carbon whereas the XPS spectrum of the catalyst indicates that Pd exists in the form of Pd (0). With a low loading of the catalyst (2 mol% Pd), Pd@MC shows a high conversion (100%) and selectivity for the desired product (>95%) in the Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of acyl halides with phenylboronic acid under a mild reaction condition. The catalyst was found to be highly active and no leaching in the reaction is observed. The catalyst can further be recycled for up to three times without loss of reactivity. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.