A metal compound of the formula: (M (n+)) z a b c d x where represents an alkylated imidazolate anion having the formula: and is selected from the group consisting of: Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No, Lr, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Al, Ga, In, TI, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, Sb, Bi, S, Se, Te, Po and mixtures thereof; where (n) is 1-6; (z) is one or two; (a) is 1 to 6; each of (b), (c) and (d) is individually selected from 0 to 5; a, b, c, d, n and z are selected to make the metal complex electroneutral, and when X, Y and Z are monoanions then (a) + (b) + (c) + (d) = (z) x (n); when (a) is greater than 1, each imidazolate anion can be different; is a neutral ligand selected from the group consisting of aliphatic C 1 -C 20 ether or aminoether, polyether; crownether, crown aminoether; amine; poly amine; amide; poly amide; ester; polyester; aromatic ether; aromatic ester; aromatic amide; aromatic amine; pyridine; imidazole; pyridine; pyrazine; furan; pyrrole, olefin, diolefin, triolefin, polyolefin, alkyne, silylolefin, silylalkyne, carbon monoxide, nitrile, silylnitrile or isocyanide, alkyl phosphine, and aromatic phosphine; (x) is 1-5;, and are individually selected from the group consisting of: beta-diketonates, ketoiminates, diimines, alkoxides, amides, amidines, hydrides, beta-ketoesters, amidinates, guanidinates, cyclopentadienyl, cyanide, isocyanide, formate, acetate, oxalate, malonate, phenoxide, thiolate, trialkylsiloxide, bis(trialkylsilyl)amide, sulfide, nitrate, alkyl, silylalkyl, trialkylsiloxide, fluoroalkyl, aryl, pyrrolyl, polyalkylated pyrrolyl anion, halide and mixtures thereof; and R 1-3 are individually selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-12, wherein at least one of R 1-3 is C 1-12, and C 1-12 can be substituted, wherein optionally at least two groups R 1-3 are linked together to form a ring structure; and wherein optionally at least one group R 1-3 of one imidazolate anion is joined to a group R 1-3 of another imidazolate anion. and is selected from the group consisting of: Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No, Lr, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Al, Ga, In, TI, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, Sb, Bi, S, Se, Te, Po and mixtures thereof; where (n) is 1-6; (z) is one or two; (a) is 1 to 6; each of (b), (c) and (d) is individually selected from 0 to 5; a, b, c, d, n and z are selected to make the metal complex electroneutral, and when X, Y and Z are monoanions then (a) + (b) + (c) + (d) = (z) x (n); when (a) is greater than 1, each imidazolate anion can be different; is a neutral ligand selected from the group consisting of aliphatic C 1 -C 20 ether or aminoether, polyether; crownether, crown aminoether; amine; poly amine; amide; poly amide; ester; polyester; aromatic ether; aromatic ester; aromatic amide; aromatic amine; pyridine; imidazole; pyridine; pyrazine; furan; pyrrole, olefin, diolefin, triolefin, polyolefin, alkyne, silylolefin, silylalkyne, carbon monoxide, nitrile, silylnitrile or isocyanide, alkyl phosphine, and aromatic phosphine; (x) is 1-5;, and are individually selected from the group consisting of: beta-diketonates, ketoiminates, diimines, alkoxides, amides, amidines, hydrides, beta-ketoesters, amidinates, guanidinates, cyclopentadienyl, cyanide, isocyanide, formate, acetate, oxalate, malonate, phenoxide, thiolate, trialkylsiloxide, bis(trialkylsilyl)amide, sulfide, nitrate, alkyl, silylalkyl, trialkylsiloxide, fluoroalkyl, aryl, pyrrolyl, polyalkylated pyrrolyl anion, halide and mixtures thereof; and R 1-3 are individually selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-12, wherein at least one of R 1-3 is C 1-12, and C 1-12 can be substituted, wherein optionally at least two groups R 1-3 are linked together to form a ring structure; and wherein optionally at least one group R 1-3 of one imidazolate anion is joined to a group R 1-3 of another imidazolate anion.