Nitroanilines are synthesized via selenium-catalyzed monoreduction of dinitrobenzenes with CO/H2O. The monoreduction occurs in high selectivity regardless of other reducible functionalities on the aromatic ring. This catalytic reaction is important from both synthetic and industrial points of view, because the reaction can be carried out with high yields of desired nitroanilines not only under high pressure but also under atmospheric pressure. There exists a phase-transfer process of the selenium catalyst in the reaction, which makes the catalyst easily separated from the reaction system by simple phase separation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.