Tertiary phosphines Ph(2)P-Ar and PhP(Ar)(2) containing mono- and disubstituted aromatic ring systems Ar (Ar = C6H4-X and C6H3-XY; X, Y = Me, OH, NH2, COOH, COOMe and SO3Na) are accessible in good yields by Pd(0)-catalyzed cross coupling reactions between diphenylphosphine or phenylphosphine and substituted aryliodides I-C6H4-X or I-C6H3-XY in organic solvents (dimethylacetamide, acetonitrile, methanol) using organic amines or potassium and sodium acetate as bases. If the primary phosphine is employed in the appropriate stoichiometric ratio, functionalized secondary phosphines, e.g. Ph(H)P-C6H4-p-SO3Na, may be obtained selectively.