A silica-supported poly-gamma-diphenylarsinopropylsiloxane palladium complex has been prepared from gamma-chloropropyltriethoxysilane via immobilization on fumed silica, followed by reacting with potassium diphenylarsenide in THF and then the reaction with palladium chloride. It is an efficient catalyst for Heck carbonylation of aryl halides under atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide. This polymeric palladium catalyst can be recovered and reused. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.