Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
We have prepared compounds having the general formula M(SR)2 (M = Zn, Cd; R = i-Pr, t-Bu, Bz) and Hg(SR)CI (R = i-Pr, Bz) and investigated their use as potential sources in the preparation of metal sulfides from molecular precursors. Selected examples of the prepared compounds have been studied by single crystal x-ray diffraction. Decomposition has been carried out both in the solid state and by heating a suspension of a metal thiolate in a high boiling hydrocarbon. The decomposition products have been studied by GC/MS (liquids) and XRD (solids).