A pre-formed catalyst Pd2+/PANI composite for C-C coupling reaction was synthesized by combining the self-stabilized dispersion polymerization method with the in-situ composite material. Experiments have confirmed that the relatively high reduced structure (75%) in the polyaniline carrier is more favorable for the coupling reaction. Raman spectroscopy, solid nuclear magnetic, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to characterize the structures. The pre-formed catalyst has uniform coordination of divalent palladium and nitrogen in different valence states of the carrier polyaniline, which shows a good synergistic effect in the catalytic Ullmann reaction, and greatly reduces the use of reducing agents such as hydrazine hydrate. Compared with other studies, we analyzed the catalytic reaction mechanism in detail through real-time online infrared and XPS characterization. The results show that the divalent palladium in the catalyst and the zero-valent palladium generated by the in-situ reaction synergistically promote the reaction, while the polyaniline support acts as a stabilizer and dispersant, which prevents the agglomeration of the metal particles and prolongs increased catalyst life. The prepared Pd2+/PANI composites will become the most attractive alternative to traditional organic materials due to their wide applicability, high catalytic activity, stable recycling and relatively low price. This work provides a new theoretical basis for the understanding of the essential driving force of PANI catalytic activity and the cognition of the micro mechanism of action. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.