Cheap FeCl3 serves as the precatalyst for the direct cross-coupling of aryl and alkyl halides that is based on the sequence of Grignard formation and subsequent cross-coupling. This one-pot reaction obviates preformation of hazardous Grignard compounds and limits the amount of reactive organomagnesium intermediates to low quasi-stationary concentrations. TMEDA=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine.