WCl₆ in dimethyl formamide (DMF) is introduced as a new reagent system for aminocarbonylation of aryl halides in the presence of PdCl₂ as pre-catalyst without any phosphorous ligand. Aryl iodides, bromides as well as chlorides were efficiently converted to their corresponding N,N-dimethyl amides in good to high yields. In this protocol, WCl₆/DMF is responsible for the generation of both Pd(0) catalyst as well as the formation of a Vilsmeier imminium type intermediate.