One-pot synthesis of the N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) adduct of cyclopalladated ferrocenylimine complex 1 has been described. This complex has been successfully applied to Suzuki coupling reaction. Various aryl chloride and boronic acids can be coupled efficiently with a mild base K3PO4 center dot 7H(2)O and low catalyst loadings. This system has been proven to be compatible with the sterically hindered aryl chlorides and some boronic acids leading to form di- and tri-ortho-substituted biaryls in high yields. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.