Transition metal complexes as catalysts for hydrogenation hydroformylation and cyclotrimerization

In a process selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) the catalytic hydrogenation of an unsaturated compound;
• (b) the catalytic hydroformylation of an alkene;
• and
• (c) the catalytic cyclotrimerization of an acetylene compound,
• the improvement which comprises:
• carrying out the process in the presence of a catalyst which is a transition metal complex of the formula
• [A].sup.x- [Q].sup.30 x I
• where Q is one equivalent of a cation, x is from 0 to 2 and A is a transition metal complex of the formula ##STR19## where n is from 1 to 3, M is positively charged cobalt, rhodium, iridium or ruthenium, the groups B are identical or different groups of the formula ##STR20## where E is phosphorous or arsenic, O is oxygen, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkylene which in turn may carry up to two cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl or hetaryl groups having a total of not more than 15 ring atoms, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be interrupted by oxygen, sulfur or (--NR.sup.4), R.sup.4 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and the heteroatoms or heteroatom groups ar each separated by two or more carbon atoms and the radicals R.sup.4 derived from two different (--NR.sup.4) groups may furthermore be bonded to one another to form a 5-membered or 6-membered ring, F.sup.1 and F.sup.2 are each alkenyl, alkynyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkadienyl, nitrile, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, aryloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylsulfido, arylsulfido C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -dialkyl- and diarylphosphido and/or carboxylato, a-d each 0 or 1, with the proviso that a+b>0 and c+d>0, L is ##STR21## the radicals R.sup.5 are identical or different radicals from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and phenyl, p is an integer from 0 to 6 and q is an integer from 0 to 5, and R.sup.1 fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanide, isocyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -trialkyl phosphite or triaryl phosphite.