Palladium imidazole complexes have been used as catalyst precursors for the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ambient temperature ionic liquids. The system provides a stable, recyclable method for iodo- and bromoarenes. The preferred reaction conditions are explored and the effect of changing the ionic liquid components is investigated. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.