This review is devoted to the application of palladium metal catalysts to t
he Heck reaction (arylation or vinylation of alkenes with aryl or vinyl hal
ides and pseudohalides). The number of relevant articles published in recen
t years shows steadily increasing interest in this field. A brief outline o
f the historical development of heterogeneous catalysis as applied to the H
eck reaction is given (Section 2). Both supported metal catalysts (Section
3) and stabilized colloidal palladium catalysts (Section 4) are included. H
eterogeneous catalysts supported over different kinds of supports (carbon,
inorganic oxides, molecular sieves, polymeric materials, etc.) are reviewed
under separate headings. Particular attention is paid to the metal leachin
g and the nature of catalysis, two tightly connected problems which appear
to be still controversial (Section 5). Some perspectives are shortly discus
sed in the final section (Section 6). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri
ghts reserved.