A series of silver carboxylates containing unsaturated groups within the ligand have been synthesised [AgO 2 CR, R ~CH 2 CN (1), H 2 CLCH (3), H 2 CLCHCH 2 CH 2 (5), Me(H)CLC(Me) (8), Ph(H)CLCH ( 11)], along with their triphenylphosphine [AgO 2 CR(PPh 3 ) 2 , R ~CH 2 CN (2), H 2 CLCH (4), H 2 CLCHCH 2 CH 2 (6), Me(H)CLC(Me) (9), Ph(H)CLCH ( 12)] and 1,2-bis(phenylthio)ethane adducts [AgO 2 CR(PhSCH 2 CH 2 SPh) 2 , R H2 CLCHCH 2 CH 2 (7), Me(H)CLC(Me) ( 10)]. The structures of 2, 6, 8 and 9 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction; the adducts are all four-coordinate at silver with a chelating carboxylate, while 8 adopts a polymeric structure based on dimeric units and in which an approximately octahedral geometry at silver is attained by additional weak intermolecular Ag … O and p-Ag … CLC interactions. Silver films have been grown by aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition using 6, 7, 9 and 10; no film was obtained with 2, while only a very thin film was generated by 12. Films grown from the sulfur-containing adducts 7 and 10 were rough and poorly reflective, while films from 6 and 9 were of superior quality, being smooth and highly reflective.