Synthesis of Cadmium Precursor

The cadmium precursor was prepared according to a reported procedure.^{34 (link)} Briefly, in a three-neck flask, 2.0 g (15.7 mmol) of CdO was added to 6.5 mL (41 mmol) of octanoic acid. While stirring, the system was heated under N₂ atmosphere to 180 °C, until a colorless solution is obtained. The reaction was kept at 180 °C for 20 minutes and then cooled. During cooling, between 110 °C and 80 °C, the mixture was connected to a vacuum line to remove the water produced in the condensation reaction. The colorless solution was rapidly transferred to centrifugation tubes, acetone was added and a white solid was precipitated after centrifugation. The solid fraction was centrifuged with fresh acetone three additional times to purify the reaction product, then dried overnight under vacuum.