The present application discloses methods for producing a hexadentate
bimetallic complex. A method may comprise contacting an acyliminepyridine
compound, a metal salt, and an amine to form a mixture; and recovering
the hexadentate bimetallic complex from the mixture. A method may also
comprise forming at least one imine bond in the presence of a metal salt,
metal complex, or combinations thereof. The metal salt may be iron,
cobalt, nickel, chromium, vanadium or mixtures thereof. The
acyliminepyridine compound may be a mono-acyliminepyridine in instances
where the amine is a diamine. In such instances, the
mono-acyliminepyridine compound to diamine molar ratio may be in the
range of about 2:1; and the mono-acyliminepyridine compound to metal salt
molar ratio may be in the range of about 1:1. Methods for preparing an
acyliminepyridine compound for use in preparation of a hexadentate
bimetallic complex are also disclosed. Such methods may comprise
contacting a di-acylpyridine with a first amine to form a first mixture,
and recovering the acyliminepyridine compound from the first mixture.