The present invention relates to a process for the production of trifluoromethylated unsubstituted or substituted aryl or heteroaryl compounds which comprises reacting an unsubstituted or substituted aryl or heteroaryl halide with a trifluoroacetate of formula (I) or (II), wherein R1 is hydrogen or a C1-C5 alkyl group and M an alkali metal or an ammonium ion, in the presence of and an anorganic halogenide salt or a trifluoroacetacid salt as activator compound and a catalytic combination of a copper salt with a monodentate, bidentate or tridentate aromatic or aliphatic amine or pyridine ligand.