Organophosphine/phosphite stabilized disilver(I) methanedisulphonates: synthesis, solid state structures and their potential use as MOCVD precursors.

New disilver(I) methanedisulphonate complexes [CH(2)(SO(3))(2)Ag(2)·L(n)] (L = PPh(3); n=2, 2a; n=3, 2b; n=4, 2c; n=5, 2d; n=6, 2e; L=P(OEt)(3); n=2, 2f; n=4, 2g; n=6, 2h) were prepared by the reaction of [CH(2)(SO(3))(2)Ag(2)], which could be synthesized from methanedisulphonic acid and Ag(2)CO(3) in water, with triphenylphosphine or triethylphosphite in dichloromethane under a nitrogen atmosphere. The solid state structures of three complexes 2c, 2d and 2f were determined by single X-ray structure analysis. Hot-wall metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) experiments were carried out at 395 °C, 420 °C and 450 °C using 2g as precursor for the deposition of silver films, respectively. The silver film with high purity obtained at 420 °C is dense and homogeneous, which is composed of many well isolated, granular particulates spreading all over the substrate surface.