Patent ID: 8563737

Claim:
A method of making a metal complex having the formula I, Q 1 -M-Q 2 , the method comprising: mixing a salt of formula MX 2 L n with precursors of carbenes Q 1 and Q 2 , wherein Q 1 and Q 2 are independently selected from a compound of formula II, a carbene forming agent, a solvent, resulting in a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture, wherein: M is a second or third row transition metal in the +2 oxidation state; X is a halogen; L is a ligand coordinated to M and selected from the group consisting of DMSO, THF, and CH 3 CN; n is from 2 to 4; wherein ring A is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a 5-membered heterocyclic group; (b) an 8- to 12-membered bicyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms; (c) an 11- to 18-membered tricyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms; (d) an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms; and (e) an 14- to 18-membered fused tetracyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms; wherein ring A may form a salt; a is 0 to 4; wherein ring B is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a 5-membered heterocyclic group; (b) an 8- to 12-membered bicyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms; (c) an 11- to 18-membered tricyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms; (d) an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group having from 0 to 6 ring heteroatoms; and (e) a 14- to 18-membered fused tetracyclic group having from 0 to 7 ring heteroatoms; wherein ring B may form a salt; b is 0 to 4; X 1 is selected from C—R 1 and N; X 2 is selected from C—R 2 and N; X 3 is selected from C—R 3 and N; optionally, R 1 and R 2 , or R 2 and R 3 are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group, an 11- to 14-membered fused tricyclic group, which may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof; optionally, R 1 and an R A are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, or an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group; optionally, R 3 and an R B are linked to form a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group, or an 8- to 10-membered fused bicyclic group; wherein R A , R B , R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, halide, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, silyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, carbonyl, carboxylic acids, ester, nitrile, isonitrile, sulfanyl, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphino, and combinations thereof.