With dibromohydantoin and dichlorohydantoin as halogen sources, 18 (halogenated phenyl)(pyridin-2-yl) methanones were prepared by Pd(OAc)2 catalyzed C—H halogenation from (substituted phenyl)(pyridine-2-yl) methanones in 1,2-dichloroethane. Their structures were determined by 1HNMR and 13CNMR. A range of (halogenated phenyl)(pyridin-2-yl) methanones with wide functional group tolerance was obtained in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, the results indicate that the halogenation ability of dibromohydantoin is higher than dichlorohydantoin. In addition, a possible reaction pathway was proposed as a C–H bond activation-halogenation process based on the results of control experiments.