The production of 2-propylheptanol described here is effected via Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of C.sub.4-olefin to afford C.sub.5-aldehyde, aldol condensation to afford the C.sub.10-aldehyde and hydrogenation to afford the C.sub.10-alcohol. The emphasis is on the hydroformylation and the ligand employed therein. The problem addressed by the invention is that of reducing the costs of 2PH production. This problem is solved when a cheaper catalyst system which simultaneously achieves a better regioselectivity is employed in the hydroformylation. This catalyst system contains rhodium as the central atom and is complexed with the ligand (1):

##STR00001##

The invention relates to a method for preparing compounds of the general formula M.sup.AY.sub.n(AzuH) (I), where M.sup.A=alkali metal, Y=neutral ligand, n=0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. AzuH is azulene (bicyclo[5.3.0]decapentaene) or an azulene derivative that bears a hydride anion H? in the 4, 6 or 8 position in addition to an H atom. The invention additionally provides compounds obtainable by this method, and a method using such compounds for preparation of complexes of metals of groups 6 to 12. The invention further relates to complexes of middle and later transition metals (groups 6 to 12) which each have at least one H-dihydroazulenyl anion (AzuH).sup.1?, and to the use of all the aforementioned transition metal complexes as precatalysts or catalysts or electron transfer reagents in a chemical reaction or as precursor compounds for production of a layer containing a metal M, or of a metal layer consisting of the metal M, especially on at least one surface of a substrate. The invention also provides a substrate obtainable by such a method. 25

The present invention provides a method for preparing rhodium (III) 2-ethylhexanoate solutions which supplies the reaction product with higher space yield, as well as lower sodium and chloride ion content. An aqueous solution of an alkali salt of 2-ethylhexanoate is thereby initially converted with a rhodium (III) precursor. The rhodium (III) precursor is selected from rhodium (III) chloride solution, rhodium (III) chloride hydrate, and rhodium (III) nitrate. The mixture is heated for several hours. After cooling to room temperature, the rhodium (III) 2-ethylhexanoate formed is extracted from the aqueous solution with an alcohol that is immiscible in water or a carboxylic acid that is immiscible in water, and optionally washed with aqueous mineral acid. The rhodium (III) 2-ethylhexanoate solution obtainable in this way may be used directly as catalyst in hydroformylation reactions.

The invention relates to bisphosphites having 2,4-tert-butylphenyl units and a method for the preparation thereof. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the compounds as ligands in a ligand-metal complex. The compound, and also the complex, may be used as a catalytically active composition in hydroformylation reactions.

The invention relates to a method for producing aqueous preparations of complexes of platinum group metals (PGM) Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir having the general formula [M.sup.A/M.sup.B/M.sup.C(L).sub.a(H.sub.2O).sub.b(O.sup.2).sub.c(OH.sup.).sub.d] (OH).sub.e(H.sup.+).sub.f, wherein M.sup.A=Pt.sup.II or Pd.sup.II, M.sup.B=Pt.sup.IV, M.sup.C=Rh or Ir, L is a neutral monodentate or bidentate donor ligand, and a is an integer between 1 and 4 (or 2) and/or between 1 and 6 (or 3), b is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 5), c is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 4), d is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 5), e is an integer between 0 and 2 (or 3 or 4) and f is an integer between 0 and 4 (or 5). In the method according to the invention, the hydroxo complexes H.sub.2P.sub.d(OH).sub.4 (in the case of M.sup.A=Pd.sup.II), H.sub.2Pt(OH).sub.6 (in the case of M.sup.A=Pt.sup.IIand M.sup.B=Pt.sup.IV) or H.sub.3M.sup.C(OH).sub.6 (for M.sup.C=Rh.sup.III Ir.sup.III) are converted in the presence of the donor ligands, wherein at least one hydroxo group of the hydro complex is exchanged. Preferably, the reaction occurs at temperatures in the range of 40 to 110 C. with a reaction time of between 2 and 24 hours, wherein, where MA=PtII, the conversion additionally occurs in the presence of a reduction agent. The method optionally further comprises an exchange of OH anions bound outside of the complex sphere with other anions (e.g. hydrogen carbonate or carbonate anions). The aqueous preparations contain PGM complexes such as [Pt(en).sub.2](OH).sub.2, [Pt(EA).sub.4](OH).sub.2 or [Rh(NH.sub.3).sub.6](OH).sub.3 and are used to produce electroplating baths, heterogeneous catalysts or metal powders, for example.

The invention relates to Rh, Ru, Co and Ir complexes comprising bidentate diphosphoramidites as ligands and to the use thereof as catalysts for the hydroformylation of olefins. The invention also relates to a process for preparing an aldehyde from an olefin using the complexes or ligands mentioned.

The invention relates to Rh, Ru, Co and Ir complexes comprising bidentate diphosphoramidites as ligands and to the use thereof as catalysts for the hydroformylation of olefins. The invention also relates to a process for preparing an aldehyde from an olefin using the complexes or ligands mentioned.

The present invention relates to metal complexes and to electronic devices, especially organic electroluminescent devices, comprising these metal complexes, especially as emitters.

The invention relates to a method for producing aqueous preparations of complexes of platinum group metals (PGM) Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir having the general formula [M.sup.A/M.sup.B/M.sup.C(L).sub.a(H.sub.2O).sub.b(O.sup.2).sub.c(OH.sup.).sub.d](OH).sub.e(H.sup.+).sub.f, wherein M.sup.A=Pt.sup.II or Pd.sup.II, M.sup.B=Pt.sup.IV, M.sup.C=Rh or Ir, L is a neutral monodentate or bidentate donor ligand, and a is an integer between 1 and 4 (or 2) and/or between 1 and 6 (or 3), b is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 5), c is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 4), d is an integer between 0 and 3 (or 5), e is an integer between 0 and 2 (or 3 or 4) and f is an integer between 0 and 4 (or 5). In the method according to the invention, the hydroxo complexes H.sub.2P.sub.d(OH).sub.4 (in the case of M.sup.A=Pd.sup.II), H.sub.2Pt(OH).sub.6 (in the case of M.sup.A=Pt.sup.II and M.sup.B=Pt.sup.IV) or H.sub.3M.sup.C(OH).sub.6 (for M.sup.C=Rh.sup.IIIIr.sup.III) are converted in the presence of the donor ligands, wherein at least one hydroxo group of the hydro complex is exchanged. Preferably, the reaction occurs at temperatures in the range of 40 to 110 C. with a reaction time of between 2 and 24 hours, wherein, where MA=PtII, the conversion additionally occurs in the presence of a reduction agent. The method optionally further comprises an exchange of OH anions bound outside of the complex sphere with other anions (e.g. hydrogen carbonate or carbonate anions). The aqueous preparations contain PGM complexes such as [Pt(en).sub.2](OH).sub.2, [Pt(EA).sub.4](OH).sub.2 or [Rh(NH.sub.3).sub.6](OH).sub.3 and are used to produce electroplating baths, heterogeneous catalysts or metal powders, for example.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydridocarbonyltris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium(I), RhH(CO)(PPh.sub.3).sub.3, also referred to hereinafter as Rh-hydrido. An alcoholic suspension of triphenylphosphine is stirred with an Rh(III) chloride precursor at elevated temperature. The Rh(III) chloride precursor used may be rhodium(III) chloride hydrate RhCl.sub.3*xH.sub.2O or rhodium(III) chloride solution H.sub.3[RhCl.sub.6]*(H.sub.2O).sub.n. After cooling, alcoholic alkali metal hydroxide solution is added, and the mixture is stirred for a few hours. Finally, sparging is effected with CO gas and the Rh-hydrido formed is removed. Rh-hydrido can be prepared by this process on the industrial scale with high yields and at very good quality.