A plurality of metal-containing complexes of a polydentate beta-ketoiminate, one embodiment of which is represented by the structure are shown: wherein M is a metal such as calcium, strontium, barium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, tungsten, manganese, cobalt, iron, nickel, ruthenium, zinc, copper, palladium, platinum, iridium, rhenium, osmium; wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, and aryl, having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 can be from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, cycloaliphatic, and aryl; R3 is linear or branched selected from the group consisting of alkylene, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, and aryl; R4 is an alkylene bridge; R5-6 are individually linear or branched selected from the group consisting of alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, aryl, and they can be connected to form a ring containing carbon, oxygen, or nitrogen atoms; n is an integer equal to the valence of the metal M.