The general and efficient cross-coupling of thiols with aryl halides was developed utilizing Pd(OAc)2/1,1′-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocene as the catalyst. The substrate scope is broad and includes a variety of aryl bromides and chlorides, which can be coupled to aliphatic and aromatic thiols. This catalyst system has the widest substrate scope of any reported to date. The present catalyst system also enables the palladium-catalyzed coupling of secondary phosphines with aryl bromides and chlorides.