The first MCM-41-supported thioether palladium(0) complex has been synthesized from 3-(2-cyanoethylsulfanyl)propyltriethoxysilane via immobilization on MCM-41, followed by reacting with palladium chloride, and then the reduction with hydrazine hydrate. It was found that this complex has not only high activity and stereoselectivity for arylation reaction of conjugated alkenes with aryl iodides or activated aryl bromides, but also can efficiently catalyze the arylation reaction of conjugated alkenes with unactivated bromoarenes. This polymeric palladium catalyst can be easily recovered from the products and reused at least 10 times without loss of activity. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.