Process for preparing metal compounds of an azo compound in the presence of seed crystals

Process for preparing metal compounds of an azo compound of the formula (I)

• or tautomeric structures thereof,
• in which
• rings labelled X and Y may each carry one or two substituents from the series ═O, ═S, ═NR7, —NR6R7, —OR6, —SR6, —COOR6, —CN, —CONR6R7, —SO2R8,
• alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl,
• the sum of the endocyclic and exocyclic double bonds for each of rings X and Y being three,
• in which
• R6 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl,
• R7 is hydrogen, cyano, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or acyl, and
• R8 is alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl,
• R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl and additionally, as indicated in formula (I) by the interrupted lines, may form 5- or 6-membered rings, to which further rings may be fused,
• R5 is —OH, —NR6R7, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl,
• in which R6 and R7 are as defined above,
• and in the substituents given for R1 to R8 that contain CH groups the hydrogen atoms in the CH groups may be substituted,
• and m, n, o and p may be 1 (one) or alternatively, where double bonds start from the ring nitrogen atoms on which the corresponding substituents R1 to R4 are located, as indicated in formula (I) by the dotted lines, may be 0 (zero),
• and which optionally contain a guest compound,
• wherein the preparation takes place in the presence of seed crystals.