The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of dialkylphosphite with aromatic electrophiles (Hirao coupling) was re-investigated. Some limitations in terms of palladium loadings and substrate reactivity are alleviated with the use of Pd (OAc) 2 complexed to 1, 1′-bis (diphenylphosphino) ferrocene (dppf) as a ligand. Various aryl and heteroaryl halides are employed to deliver both known and novel substituted phosphonates. The first examples ...