Bismuth-containing catalyst comprising a dicarboxylate ligand

A bismuth-containing catalyst of a general formula (I)

• in which the variables are defined as follows:
• (R1)2- is mutually independently a dianion of a general formula (II)
• wherein R3, R4, R5 and R6 are mutually independently unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C1-C30-alkyl, C6-C14-aryl or C7-C30-aralkyl,
• wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, halogen, carboxyl, —CF3, —NH2, —SH, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C30-alkyl and C6-C14-aryl and the alkyl and aryl fragments of these substituents may in turn be at least monosubstituted by hydroxyl, halogen, —CF3, —NH2, —SH, or C1-C6-alkoxy,
• and wherein A is unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C1-C30-alkylene, wherein A may comprise a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O, S, P—R12 and N—R12,
• wherein R12 is unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C1-C30-alkyl or H, wherein R12 may comprise a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O, S, P—R13 and N—R13, wherein R13 is an unsubstituted C1-C30-alkyl or H,
• (R2) is mutually independently a hydroxide anion, an alkoxylate anion, a halide anion, a hydrogencarbonate anion, a thiolate anion, R7, an anion of a general formula (III)
• or an anion of a general formula (IV)
• wherein R7 is unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C1-C30-alkyl, C6-C14-aryl or C7-C30-aralkyl,
• wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, halogen, carboxyl, —CF3, —NH2, —SH, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C30-alkyl and C6-C14-aryl and the alkyl and aryl fragments of these substituents may in turn be at least monosubstituted by hydroxyl, halogen, —CF3, —NH2, —SH, or C1-C6-alkoxy,
• and wherein R8 and R9 are each phenyl and R10 is C1-C12-alkyl,
• and wherein R11 is unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C1-C30-alkyl, C6-C14-aryl or C7-C30-aralkyl,
• wherein the substituents are selected from hydroxyl, halogen, carboxyl, —CF3, —NH2, —SR14, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C30-alkyl or C6-C14-aryl, wherein the alkyl and aryl fragments of these substituents may in turn be at least monosubstituted by hydroxyl, halogen, —CF3, —NH2 or C1-C6-alkoxy and R14 is H, unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted C1-C30-alkyl, C6-C14-aryl or C7-C30-aralkyl.