Patent ID: 7956003

Claim:
A metallic complex obtained by complexation reaction of an oxidised ferricinium ligand of the formula wherein Cp is a cyclopentadienyl group, unsubstituted or substituted, with chelating arms, wherein X and Y are the same or different with the restriction that at least one Y or X contains at least one chelating group in direct connection with the ferricinium, the other of Y or X being optionally present and wherein X and/or Y are each independently selected to include atoms O, N, P, S or groups —CR═CR—, —CR═N—, —N═CR— or —C≡C— wherein R is H, alkyl or aryl groups having at most 20 carbon atoms, wherein Z and W are each independently selected from alkyl, aryl, heterocycle group or non-heterocycle group containing ether, thioether, phosphine, imine, amine or amide, wherein iron has been oxidated with an oxidant capable to oxidate Fe II into Fe III but mild enough to preserve the ligand, and wherein A − is an anion associated to Fe III with a metallic precursor M(Hal) n R′ v-n in a solvent, wherein M is a metal Group 6 to 10 of the Periodic Table, each Hal is the same or different and is halogen, each R′ is the same or different and is substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy or alkoxy, v is the valence of M and n is zero or an integer at most equal to v.