Palladium nanoparticles supported on zinc hydroxide salts were prepared by intercalation of [PdCl6]2- and its further reduction with ethanol under reflux. All the materials were completely characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analyses, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Visible spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM analysis confirmed that the palladium nanoparticles were properly supported. The material containing supported palladium nanoparticles was used to promote Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions starting from aryl halides, with isolated yields of 98, 75 and 62% of biphenyl, cinnamic acid and 3-nitrobiphenyl, respectively.