It has been found that the acrylonitrile solution of trans-$RhCl(CO)(Ph_3P)_2$ produces propionitrile catalytically at $90^{circ}C$ under $P_{H_2}$=3 atm. This catalytic hydrogenation proceeds only for a certain period of time producing ca. 50 moles of propionitrile per mole of the rhodium complex. The hydrogenation with trans-$RhCl(CO)(Ph_3P)_2$ in the presence of formaldehyde is much faster than in the absence of formaldehyde, and continues without a decrease in the rate for a prolonged period of time. It is suggested that the hydrogenation with trans-$RhCl(CO)(Ph_3P)_2$ proceeds through the unsaturated route initiated by the dissociation of CO from trans- $RhCl(CO)(Ph_3P)_2$ to give coordinatively unsaturated $RhCl(Ph_3P)_2$.