Process for the preparation of supported metal catalysts

A process for the preparation of a supported metal catalyst containing at least one metal belonging to Group A and optionally at least one metal belonging to Group B, wherein Group A metals are selected from the group consisting of palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, platinum, iridium, osmium, silver, gold and cadmium and Group B metals are selected from the group consisting of zinc, mercury, germanium, tin, antimony and lead, by reductive deposition of the metal(s) onto the support by impregnating the support with a solution containing the ions or compounds of the metal(s) in question to form a suspension and then reducing the suspension, characterized in that the metal(s) is (are) applied onto the support in the presence of at least one compound of the general formula (I), ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 each stands for a straight-chained or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl group, A C.sub.1-4 hydroxyalkyl group or a phenyl-(C.sub.1-4 alkyl) group optionally having additional substituents, preferably C.sub.1-4 alkyl groups, on the phenyl ring, and

• X is hydroxy group or the residue of an organic or mineral acid,
• that the reduction is effected by hydrogenation at a temperature not exceeding 300.degree. C., that no calcining step is used, and that the compound(s) of general formula (I) and the compound(s) of the metal(s) belonging to Group A are used in a molar ratio of 1.1/1 to 132.1/1.