A novel palladium-catalyzed and Mo(CO) 6 promoted aminocarbonylation protocol was developed for rapid generation of primary aromatic amides from aryl bromides and iodides. Employing controlled microwave heating, hydroxylamine was first reduced in situ to ammonia, which thereafter reacted with carbon monoxide and the aryl halide substrate, delivering the benzamide product in less than 20min. Based on this in situ carbonylation, a facile preparation of a novel HIV-1 protease inhibitor was achieved.