Rhodium(III) pre-catalysts exhibit a much higher catalytic activity in ionic solvents (phosphonium or imidazolium salts) than in THF for the hydroamination of norbornene with aniline. The nature of the anionic part of the ionic solvent seems to play an important part, bromides ions being the more efficient in increasing the catalytic activity. For the same reaction, the activity of platinum(II) pre-catalysts is evidenced for the first time, and is also increased when used in tetrabutylphosphonium bromide as solvent. The catalytic activity and selectivity also depend upon the nature of the ligands in the platinum precursor. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.