AbstractEthylenediamine bis(triphenylphosphine) monochlororhodium has been prepared by the interaction of Wilkinson's catalyst and ethylenediamine in benzene. The complex has been isolated and characterized by conventional and spectroscopic methods. The catalytic activity of the complex was investigated for the hydrogenation of 1‐octene as a model reaction at a hydrogen pressure of 1 atmosphere (101 kPa) using methanol as a solvent. The influence of various factors such as catalyst, substrate concentrations and temperature have been studied. The hydrido complex has been identified as an intermediate product by IR and NMR studies. The experimental data are in accordance with a rate expression of the form:\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$$ Rate = \frac{Kk_1[cat][H_2][olefin]}{k+k[olefin]} $$\end{document