Abstract: Compounds of the formula Ia or Ib ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently of one another, are hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl or, together with the carbon atoms in the .alpha.-position to the carbonyl groups, form a cyclopentane, cyclopentene, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, cyclohexadiene or bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene ring which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, or form a monocyclic or polycyclic, aromatic ring system which is unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently of one another, are hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl or aralkyl, and R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently of one another, are alkyl, aryl or aralkyl groups, are highly suitable as flame retardants for polymers.

Abstract: Curable mixtures, containing,(a) at least one bisphenol diglycidyl ether based on bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol A or bisphenol F,(b) as a curing catalyst, a colorless or slightly yellow solution of a metal complex compound of the formula I]Me(H.sub.2 O).sub.x (Lm).sub.y ].sup.2+ (A.sup..crclbar.).sub.2 (I),in whichMe is a divalent metal from the group comprising Zn, Cd, Sn, Pb, Ca or Mg,Lm is a saturated cyclic ether having 5 to 7 ring atoms, a linear or cyclic saturated aliphatic ether compound or a mixture of the ether and the ether compound, the ether and the ether compound having a boiling point of at least 60.degree. C., andA is an anion of the formula BF.sub.4.sup..crclbar., PF.sub.6.sup..crclbar., AsF.sub.6.sup..crclbar. or SbF.sub.6 .sup..crclbar.