The dechlorination of substituted aryl chlorides using a homogeneous palladium catalyst system and sodium formate in refluxing methanol is described. The catalyst was formed in situ from the air-stable precursors 2-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl and Pd(OAc)2. The reaction conditions were successful for a range of aryl chlorides with activating and deactivating groups at a position para to the chloride. The reactions gave high yields (90−98%) of the product of reduction within several hours.