Palladium nanoparticles supported on MOF-5 (Pd/MOF-5), have been prepared by a chemical method at room temperature. MOF-5 and Pd/MOF-5 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N-2 sorption, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The catalyst consists of highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles (about 3-6 nm) on MOF-5 with a high surface area (533 m(2)/g). It exhibits efficient catalytic activity for the Sonogashira coupling reaction between aryl iodides and terminal acetylenes without the assistance of ligand and copper. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.