Slurry-phase catalyst compositions and methods of making the same

A process for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed, the process comprising:

• contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a slurry-phase catalyst composition comprising a disulfide oil and a first metal complex comprising:
• at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, iron, and combinations of these;
• and
• a plurality of ligands bonded to the at least one transition metal, where:
• the plurality of ligands comprises a first ligand selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfide, dimethyldisulfide, diethylsulfide, diethyldisulfide, methylethylsulfide, methylethyldisulfide, and combinations thereof;
• and
• the transition metal is bonded to a sulfur atom of the first ligand;
• and wherein the contacting occurs in a slurry-phase hydrocracking unit;
• and
• hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed in the slurry-phase hydrocracking unit to produce an upgraded hydrocarbon feed.