Spent automotive three-way catalysts, containing Rh, Pd and Pt nanoparticles supported on oxide-based ceramic materials, catalyze the Heck cross-coupling of iodobenzene with butyl acrylate and unsaturated alcohols at 140 degrees C. Under Suzuki reaction conditions, biphenyl was formed with high yield when the same catalysts were applied. Successful hydroformylation of 1-hexene was performed in the presence of PPh3. The catalytic activity of spent automotive three-way catalysts was compared with that of airborne matter collected in the city of Wroclaw. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.