Palladium catalysts immobilized on Al2O3-CeO2 and modified with ionic liquids (ILs), formed Suzuki-Miyaura products with yields of up to 97%. A catalyst containing [bmim]BF4 showed unchanged activity in three consecutive runs. During the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, Pd(0) nanoparticles were formed with a diameter of 6-10 nm depending on the kind of IL used. The distribution of palladium inside the Al2O3-CeO2 support was not uniform, with the maximum in the central part of the wire. The migration of palladium in the support was observed during the reaction. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.