Abstract: An alkali metal- or alkali earth metal-containing organic compound (i) is reacted with a leaving group- and silicon- or germanium-containing compound (ii) in the presence of a nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocyclic compound. By such a method, it is possible to produce a silicon- or germanium-containing organic compound, for example, a cyclopentadienyl compound cross-linked by a silicon atom or a germanium atom, typically a cyclopentadienyl compound which is substituted with a substituted or unsubstituted silyl or germyl group, for a short time with a high yield.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrogenation, dehydrosilylation of ketones, or hydrosililation of dienes or acetylenes, comprising a complex represented the the formula:A.sup.+ [M.sub.2 H(C)).sub.10 ].sup.-wherein A.sup.+ represents an alkali metal cation, an ammonium cation, an iminium cation, or a phosphonium cation; and M represents a chromium atom, a molybdenum atom, or a tungsten atom; anda process for producing dehydrosilylation products of ketones or hydrosilylation products of dienes or acetylenes, which is characterized by using the complex as a catalyst.