Abstract:The PdCl 2 /Fe/I 2 /Py catalytic system (Py -pyridine), reported to be highly active in the reaction of nitrobenzene carbonylation to ethyl phenylcarbamate was studied. The present paper describes the role of catalyst components and its effect on the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. The increase in the amount of PdCl 2 in the system while retaining a constant level of the other catalyst components, results in the increase of both carbamate and aniline yields. The increase in the amount of iron while retaining the other components constant, initially causes an increase in the carbamate yield; however, at Fe : Pd ratios higher than 36, the carbamate yield remains constant. The change in the amount of iron has no effect on the amount of aniline formed in the system. An increase in the amount of iodine in the system while retaining the other components constant, results in a decrease in carbamate yield and a considerable increase in the aniline yield of the reaction products.