Process for purification of trivalent phosphorous ligands that can be used for preparation of catalysts

A process for purifying a trivalent organophosphorous ligand prior to forming metal complex catalysts for use in a hydroformylation process comprising:

• (A) contacting a non-water soluble trivalent organophosphorous ligand comprising a contaminant metal, a non-polar first solvent, a water soluble polar complexing agent and a polar second solvent to form a two phase mixture, with a first phase comprising the ligand and the first solvent and a second phase comprising the second solvent and at least one complex of the contaminant metal and the polar complexing agent;
• and
• (B) separating the two phases and obtaining the purified trivalent organophosphorous ligand from the first phase prior to forming a metal complex catalyst for use in a hydroformylation process,
• wherein the concentration of contaminant metal in the presence of the ligand prior to step (A), based on the weight of the ligand, is higher than the concentration of contaminant metal in the presence of the ligand in the first phase after step (B), based on the weight of the ligand, wherein the contaminant metal comprises at least one of iron, nickel, chromium, tungsten, zinc, zirconium, titanium, and vanadium, and wherein the concentration of each contaminant metal in the ligand in the first phase after step (B) is less than 25 ppmw, based on the weight of the ligand.