Rhodium(I) complexes of the type, [Rh(CO)(2)ClL] (1), where L = 2-aminobenzoic acid (a), 3-aminobenzoic acid (b) and 4-aminobenzoic acid (c), have been synthesised. Oxidative addition (OA) of complexes 1 with electrophiles like RI (R = CH3, C2H5) produce Rh(III) complexes of the type [Rh(CO)(COCH3)ICIL] (2) and [Rh(CO)(COC2H5)IClL] (3). The OA reactions of complexes 1 with RI follow a two stage kinetics and the observed rate constants are in the order 1b > 1c > 1a irrespective of stages. The complexes 1 show higher catalytic activity for carbonylation of methanol and ethanol than that of the well known species [Rh(CO)(2)I-2](-). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.