reaction protocol for the coupling of arenes with alkynes (the Fujiwara reaction), yielding products of formal trans-hydroarylation of the triple bond. The protocol makes use of a chelating N-heterocyclic dicarbene palladium(II) complex as catalyst and allows us to perform the reaction in a few hours with only 0.1 mol % catalyst yielding the trans-hydroarylation product in high yields and with excellent selectivity