Palladium catalysed alkoxycarbonylation of heterocyclic halides affords a simple and versatile synthesis of both N and S heterocyclic esters where a range of catalysts have been studied and a method to employ inexpensive inorganic bases has been found. ... RA Head and DT Williams, to be published. ... Zimmermann PJ , Brehm C. , Buhr W. , Palmer AM , Volz J. , Simon W.-A.