Advances in the development of cross-coupling protocols that avoid haloaromatics are reviewed. Most of the reports that are discussed appeared in the literature within the past 2 years and describe either alternatives to halogenated electrophiles or halogen-free preparations of the organometallic partners. However, while this review is not limited to cross-couplings that are entirely free of haloaromatics, coverage of the topic is largely restricted to reactions affording new aryl-aryl, aryl-heteroaryl and heteroaryl-heteroaryl carbon-carbon bonds during the cross-coupling event. © The Thomson Corporation.