A method comprising the step of reacting at least one compound having the formula wherein X 1 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of 0 and S; R 1 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of alkyl and carbocyclyl; and R is H or an organic moiety; with at least one compound having the formula wherein X 2 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of O and S; X 3 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of O and S; R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, and R 9 are independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted carbocyclyl and optionally substituted alkyl or any two of R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, and R 9 which are attached to the same carbon atom or two adjacent carbon atoms can be bonded to form a 3- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring; n is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of 0,1, 2 and 3; in the presence of at least one salt having the formula (IIIa) M 1 Y 1 (IIIa) wherein M 1 is a cation; and Y 1 is a non-coordinating anion selected from the group consisting of tetraarylborate anions B(Ar 1) 4, aluminate anions Al(OR 10) 4 or (R 10 O) 3 Al-F-Al(OR 10) 3 and carborane anions R 11 -CB 11 R 12 11; wherein in the formula B(Ar 1) 4 Ar 1 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl group; wherein in the formulae Al(OR 10) 4 or (R 10 O) 3 Al-F-Al(OR 10) 3 R 10 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkyl group, wherein the optional substituent is selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, O-alkyl, and aryl which is optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, alkyl or CF 3; wherein in the formula R 11 -[CB 11]R 12 11 R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H, an aryl group and an alkyl group and R 12 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of H, halogen and an alkyl group, which is optionally substituted by halogen; to form a NCA complex having the formula X 1 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of 0 and S; R 1 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of alkyl and carbocyclyl; and R is H or an organic moiety; X 2 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of O and S; X 3 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of O and S; R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, and R 9 are independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted carbocyclyl and optionally substituted alkyl or any two of R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, and R 9 which are attached to the same carbon atom or two adjacent carbon atoms can be bonded to form a 3- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring; n is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of 0,1, 2 and 3; M 1 is a cation; and Y 1 is a non-coordinating anion selected from the group consisting of tetraarylborate anions B(Ar 1) 4, aluminate anions Al(OR 10) 4 or (R 10 O) 3 Al-F-Al(OR 10) 3 and carborane anions R 11 -CB 11 R 12 11; wherein in the formula B(Ar 1) 4 Ar 1 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl group; wherein in the formulae Al(OR 10) 4 or (R 10 O) 3 Al-F-Al(OR 10) 3 R 10 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkyl group, wherein the optional substituent is selected from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, O-alkyl, and aryl which is optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, alkyl or CF 3; wherein in the formula R 11 -[CB 11]R 12 11 R 11 is selected from the group consisting of H, an aryl group and an alkyl group and R 12 is independently for each occurrence selected from the group consisting of H, halogen and an alkyl group, which is optionally substituted by halogen;