RhCl[P(C6H5)(3)](3) complexes have been incorporated in polycarbonate (PC) as a dispersion medium using cosolvent (THF). The interactions between Rh(I) complexes and polycarbonate polymer molecules are studied by infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The reaction chemistry of Ph in PC films has been investigated by reacting Ph sites in PC with small gaseous molecules like CO, H-2, D-2, O-2 NO, C2H2, and C2H4 in the temperature range 25 similar to 150 degrees C. Various Rh-carbonyls, -hydride, -nitrosyl, and -superoxo dioxygen species formed in PC films are characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The Rh complexes in PC are easily reduced by reacting them with H-2 gas and such reduction results in the formation of small Rh metal particles of 20 similar to 30 Angstrom in diameter in PC. The Ph complexes in PC show interesting catalytic reactivities such as hydrogenation of olefin and acetylene, oxidation of CO, reduction of NO, methanol synthesis from CO or CO2 and oxidation of alcohol under relatively mild conditions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.