A general protocol for the palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl tosylates and mesylates to form esters has been developed using a catalyst system derived from Pd(OAC)2 and the bulky, bidentate dcpp ligand. The system operates under mild conditions: atmospheric CO pressure and temperatures of 80-110 degrees C. A broad substrate scope has been demonstrated allowing carbonylation of electron-rich, electron-poor, and heterocyclic tosylates and mesylates, and the reaction shows wide functional group tolerance.