Preparation of Transition Metal Carboxylates

A transition metal carboxylate composition produced by the process comprising:

• contacting under substantially anhydrous and substantially acid-free conditions
• 1) a transition metal precursor having the formula [((MB)y1Xx1Ll)m]q[Cc]m1[Aa]m2 where
• MB is a transition metal in the +x oxidation state where x is an integer from +1 to +6;
• each X independently is an anionic ligand having charge y where y is an integer from −3 to −1;
• each L independently is a neutral ligand;
• l is an integer from 0 to 7;
• m is an integer from −4 to 4;
• m=(y*x1)+(x*y1);
• C is a cationic species having a charge c and c is an integer from +1 to +3;
• A is an anionic species having a charge a and a is an integer from −1 to −3;
• when m<0, |m*q|=c*m1 and m2=0;
• when m=0, m1=0 and m=0;
• and
• when m>0, m*q=|a*m2| and m1=0,
• 2) a Group 1 or Group 2 metal C3-C25 carboxylate, and
• 3) a first solvent
• to form a transition metal carboxylate.