INTRA-RING DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN MS AND MX IN THE PREPARATION OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS FROM METAL-THIOLATE PRECURSORS

Chloromercurythiolate compounds of the general formula RSHgCl (R = neoPent, isoPr, Bz) have been prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The solid state decompositions of the chloromercurythiolate compounds have been studied. The volatile and involatile decomposition products have been isolated and characterized by GC/MS and XRPD, respectively. The decomposition pathways were found to be dependent greatly on the identity of the organic group present in the molecular precursor. The influence of the structure of the starting reactants on the structure of the solid state material obtained by the thermolyses of these species is discussed. The decomposition pathways found are compared to the decomposition mechanism observed for lead bis(butylthiolate) compounds.