β-Aryl eliminations from a series of rhodium (I) alkoxides to form rhodium aryl complexes and free ketones are reported. Tertiary phenylmethoxide complexes [Rh (PEt3) n (OCPhRR')](n= 2, 3) were prepared via alcoholysis of {Rh (PEt3) 2 [N (SiMe3) 2} by the corresponding alcohols HOCPhRR'in the presence and absence of added PEt3. Heating of these complexes in the presence of added PEt3 generated the rhodium phenyl complex,( ...