Heck arylation of acrylonitrile with iodobenzene was studied over different 5% Pd supported catalysts. Among these the activity of the catalysts has the following order : Pd/C < Pd/gamma-Al2O3 < Pd/MgO. Cinnamonitrile (1) is the major product in CH3CN medium with Pd(acac)(2)(acac(-) = acetyl acetonate anion) and Pd/MgO catalysts in impregnated and reduced forms. 3,3-diphenyl acrylonitrile (2) is formed as a minor product in the consecutive reaction of 1 with iodobenzene. Change of solvent to methanol gave 2 as the major product. The reduced Pd/MgO was recycled in a series of 14 h runs and the activity of the catalyst was evaluated. Pd/MgO catalyst in impregnated, reduced, used and spent forms have been analyzed to corroborate catalyst performance and reaction mechanism with ESCA (electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis) findings.