Carbonylation of aromatic amines by direct insertion of carbon monoxide is catalyzed by PdCl2(XnPY)(2) complexes (where Py = pyridine, X=-CH3, -Cl; n=0-2) and gives, depending on the conditions, ethyl N-phenylcarbamates or N,N'-diphenylureas. For carbonylation of aniline, a proper choice of XnPy ligands in PdCl2(XnPY)(2)catalyst and application of molecular oxygen instead of nitrobenzene (conventionally used oxidant for carbonylations) allow to carry out the process under mild conditions with high yield and selectivity. The best results (75% yield of the main product with selectivity of catalyst above 90%) were obtained for the process catalyzed by PdCl2(XnPY)(2) complex at 100 degrees C and they were greatly improved in comparison to 41% yield and 68% selectivity obtained for CO/nitrobenzene used at 180 degrees C. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.