Novel Pd-based heterogeneous catalysts were prepared through immobilization of Pd(OAc)2/phenanthroline on carbon and subsequent pyrolysis. The most active catalyst was characterized by TEM, XPS and XRD techniques and was successfully used for the base-free methoxycarbonylation of aryl iodides. Notably, no metal contamination (detection limit < 0.5 ppm) in the final products was observed.