In search of molecular precursors for cadmium sulfide-new complexes with a sulfur-rich kernel: cadmium(ii) tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates with additional diethyldithiocarbamato ligand.

The reaction of dimeric bis(tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolato)cadmium(ii) [Cd{SSi(OBu(t))(3)}(2)](2) with diethyldithiocarbamate sodium salt in the presence of quaternary ammonium salts resulted in formation of three new heteroleptic cadmium(ii) complexes-the first silanethiolate species possessing additionally other S-donor ligands. Neutral as well as ionic compounds and can be obtained with a good yield depending on the quaternary salt and solvent used. Their X-ray structures have been determined-complex [Cd{SSi(OBu(t))(3)}(S(2)CNEt(2))](2) turned out to be dimeric in the solid state, while and are monometallic species with a [Cd{SSi(OBu(t))(3)}(2)(S(2)CNEt(2))](-) anion. The cadmium atom in each case has been found tetra-coordinated with a distorted CdS(4) kernel. Elemental and spectral analyses (IR, NMR, UV-vis) were carried out. Thin films of and prepared on SiO(2) substrates via spin coating technique were analysed by AFM and XPS. The thermal decomposition product of was analysed using XRD, EDS, SEM and TEM measurements and identified as hexagonal CdS.