A fast and convenient base-free Heck reaction of acrylic acid with hypervalent iodonium salts was achieved under microwave irradiation in water, providing a simple method for the synthesis of trans-cinnamic acids in good yields in short time. A fast and convenient base-free Heck reaction of acrylic acid with hypervalent iodonium salts was achieved under microwave irradiation in water, providing a simple method for the synthesis of trans-cinnamic acids in good yields in short time.