Rhodium and palladium complexes proved to be effective catalysts in hydrodechlorination of CFC and HCFC compounds in homogeneous phase. RhCl3 (py)(3) and in situ generated Pd(PPr3)(3) surpassed Pd/Al2O3, the most active heterogeneous catalyst tested in the transformation of CF3CHFCl to CF3CH2F. In the case of CF2Cl2, the activity and selectivity of Rh- and Pd-containing systems depended strongly on the additives. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.