The palladium-catalyzed annulation reaction of 2-(1-alkynyl)biphenyls (1) with aryl iodides has been developed to prepare a variety of diarylmethylidenefluorenes (2). This method tolerates various functional groups in aryl iodide, such as OCH(3), CH(3), Cl, Br, Cf(3), and NO(2). All proceed in good yield with the exception of 4-iodonitrobenzene.