Thermolysis of these compounds by heating to prolonged heating to 150 °C led to metallic films of Cu, Ag and Au by XRD analysis (Figure ). The triazenide ligand provided the electrons for the reduction of the metal atoms and therefore these compounds can be seen as "single-source" precursors. This was a substantial result as usually a reducing agent, for example H2 gas, is required to reduce the ionic metal atom to the ground state.