Synthesis of Pd nanoparticle supported on cobalt ferrite magnetic nanoparticles has been achieved by direct addition of Pd nanoparticles during synthesis of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles by ultrasound assisted co-precipitation in the absence of any surface stabilizers or capping agent. The catalytic performance of the Pd incorporated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles was examined in Suzuki coupling reaction in ethanol under ligand free condition. The reaction undergoes with low catalyst loading (1.6 mol%) and the catalyst could be recovered using an external magnet and reused for multiple cycles with sustained catalytic activity. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.