Metal-containing complexes of a tridentate beta-ketoiminate, one embodiment of which is represented by the structure: ##STR00001## 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; R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, and aryl, having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, cycloaliphatic, and aryl; R.sup.3 is linear or branched selected from the group consisting of alkylene, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, and aryl; R.sup.4 is a branched alkylene bridge with at least one chiral center; R.sup.5-6 are individually linear or branched selected from the group consisting of alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, aryl, and 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.