Palladium nanoparticles stabilized primarily within the protein cavity of a highly thermostable Dps protein (DNA binding protein from starved cells) from the thermophilic bacterium Thermosynechoccus elongatus provide an efficient catalyst for the homocoupling of boronic acids and potassium aryltrifluoroborates in water under aerobic phosphine-free conditions. Symmetrical biaryls have been isolated in good to excellent yields. Potassium aryltrifluoroborates give similar or better results than the corresponding arylboronic acids. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.