Reaction of aryl- or heteroarylboronic acids with aldehydes, in the presence of PdCl
2 and P(1-Nap)
3,afforded carbinol derivatives in good to excellent yields. The efficiency of this reaction was demonstratedby the compatibility with nitro, cyano, acetamido, acetoxy, acetyl, carboxyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, andchloro groups and the possibility of involving aliphatic aldehyde or hindered substrates. Moreover, therigorous exclusion of air/moisture is not required in these transformations.