Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of arylpyridine compounds by aryl-aryl cross-coupling reactions between a halopyridine and an arylmagnesium halide carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of a zinc salt and a catalytic amount of palladium complex with a bidentate phosphine. The zinc salt is preferably selected from ZnCl2, ZnBr2 and/or Zn(OAc)2, while the palladium complex with a bidentate phosphine is preferably selected from the group of (1,2-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane)palladium(II) chloride, (1,3-Bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)palladium(II) chloride and (1,4-Bis(diphenylphosphino)butane)palladium(II) chloride. Most preferred is (1,2-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane)palladium(II) chloride. It is thus possible to obtain molar yields higher than 95% calculated on the arylmagnesium halide and a catalyticity less than 1:1500.