| abstract |
Transition metal (0) or (1)/phosphine catalysts suited, e.g., for the hydrocyanation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, are produced by reducing, via hydrogenation, aqueous solutions containing at least one transition metal compound and at least one monodentate or bidentate water-soluble phosphine, advantageously at least one phosphine having one of the following formulae (I) and/or (II): P(Ar1)a(Ar2)b(Ar3)c(Q1)d(Q2)e(Q3)f(I) (Ar1)a(Ar2)b(Ar3)c(Q1)d(Q2)eP-L-P(Ar1)g(Ar2)h(Q1)i(Q2)j (II)In formulas (I) and (II), Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 may be identical or different and are each an aryl radical or a substituted aryl radical. Q1, Q2 and Q3 may be identical or different and are each an alkyl radical, a cycloalkyl radical, a substituted alkyl radical, or a substituted cycloalkyl radical. |