Electron-rich and electron-poor aryl iodides are converted, in high to excellent yields, into the corresponding carboxylic acids through a hydroxycarboxylation reaction catalyzed by a recoverable and reusable phosphine free palladium–carbon aerogel catalyst using lithium formate and acetic anhydride as an internal condensed source of carbon monoxide. The catalyst system can be reused several times without any appreciable loss of activity.
