An efficient palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 4-hydroxy-pyrone or 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone with arylboronic acid is described, which affords the 4-substituted-pyrones and 2(5H)-furanones in good yields. This transformation proceeds through a C-OH bond activation under mild conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.