Complexes of the form RhX(CO)(PR 3 ) 2 [X = Cl, Br or I; R = Me or Ph] reacted with H 2 to form a series of binuclear complexes of the type (PR 3 ) 2 H 2 Rh(µ-X) 2 Rh(CO)(PR 3 ) [X = Cl, Br or I, R = Ph; X = I, R = Me] and (PMe 3 ) 2 (X)-HRh(µ-H)(µ-X)Rh(CO)(PMe 3 ) [X = Cl, Br or I] according to parahydrogen sensitised 1 H, 13 C, 31 P and 103 Rh NMR spectroscopy. Analogous complexes containing mixed halide bridges (PPhare detected when RhX(CO)(PPh 3 ) 2 and RhY(CO)(PPh 3 ) 2 are warmed together with p-H 2 . In these reactions only one isomer of the products (PPh 3 ) 2 H 2 Rh(µ-I)(µ-Cl)Rh(CO)(PPh 3 ) and (PPh 3 ) 2 H 2 Rh(µ-I)-(µ-Br)Rh(CO)(PPh 3 ) is formed in which the µ-iodide is trans to the CO ligand of the rhodium() centre. When (PPh 3 ) 2 H 2 Rh(µ-Cl)(µ-Br)Rh(CO)(PPh 3 ) is produced in the same way two isomers are observed. The mechanism of the hydrogen addition reaction is complex and involves initial formation of RhH 2 X(CO)(PR 3 ) 2 [R = Ph or Me], followed by CO loss to yield RhH 2 X(PR 3 ) 2 . This intermediate is then attacked by the halide of a precursor complex to form a binuclear species which yields the final product after PR 3 loss. The (PPh 3 ) 2 H 2 Rh(µ-X) 2 Rh(CO)(PPh 3 ) systems are shown to undergo hydride self exchange by exchange spectroscopy with rates of 13.7 s Ϫ1 for the (µ-Cl) 2 complex and 2.5 s Ϫ1 for the (µ-I) 2 complex at 313 K. Activation parameters indicate that ordering dominates up to the rate determining step; for the (µ-Cl) 2 system ∆H ‡ = 52 ± 9 kJ mol Ϫ1 and ∆S ‡ = Ϫ61 ± 27 J K Ϫ1 mol Ϫ1 . This process most likely proceeds via halide bridge opening at the rhodium() centre, rotation of the rhodium() fragment around the remaining halide bond and bridge re-establishment. If the triphenylphosphine ligands are replaced by trimethylphosphine distinctly different reactivity is observed. When RhX(CO)(PMe 3 ) 2 [X = Cl or Br] is warmed with p-H 2 the complex (PMe 3 ) 2 (X)HRh(µ-H)(µ-X)Rh(CO)(PMe 3 ) [X = Cl or Br] is detected which contains a bridging hydride trans to the rhodium() PMe 3 ligand. However, when X = I, the situation is far more complex, with (PMe 3 ) 2 H 2 Rh(µ-I) 2 Rh(CO)(PMe 3 ) observed preferentially at low temperatures and (PMe 3 ) 2 (I)HRh(µ-H)-(µ-I)Rh(CO)(PMe 3 ) at higher temperatures. Additional binuclear products corresponding to a second isomer of (PMe 3 ) 2 (I)HRh(µ-H)(µ-I)Rh(CO)(PMe 3 ), in which the bridging hydride is trans to the rhodium() CO ligand, and (PMe 3 ) 2 HRh(µ-H)(µ-I) 2 Rh(CO)(PMe 3 ) are also observed in this reaction. The relative stabilities of related systems containing the phosphine PH 3 have been calculated using approximate density functional theory. In each case, the (µ-X) 2 complex is found to be the most stable, followed by the (µ-H)(µ-X) species with hydride trans to PH 3 .