Preparation of metal complexes of 1,3-diketones

A process for preparing metal complexes of organic 1,3-diketones having the general formula ##EQU5## wherein R and R' are each individually monovalent organic radicals selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, and haloaryl radicals having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms;

• M is a metal cation selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, mercury, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, zirconium, chromium, uranium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, platinum, palladium, cadmium, scandium, thorium, vanadium, ytturium, europium, gadolinium, hafnium, and plutonium, n is an integer which corresponds to the electrovalence of M and x has a value of O or a positive integer, which comprises reacting in the presence of an alkylene oxide and an inert organic polar solvent, a metal halide having the formula M(X).sub.n.y(H.sub.2 O) wherein M and n are the same as defined above, X is halogen and y has a value of O or a positive integer, and an organic 1,3-diketone having the formula RCOCH.sub.2 COR' wherein R and R' are the same as defined above.