A simple synthetic method was developed to prepare 4Agpy.sub.2ClO.sub.4·Agpy.sub.4ClO.sub.4 in a low-temperature decomposition process of Agpy.sub.4ClO.sub.4. A detailed IR, Raman and far-IR study including factor group analysis has been performed, and the assignation of bands is given. The compound decomposes quickly with a multistep ligand loss process with the formation of Agpy.sub.2ClO.sub.4 and AgClO.sub.4 intermediates and AgCl as an end product around ~ 85, ~ 350 and 450 °C, respectively. During the first decomposition step, a small fraction of the ligands is lost in a redox reaction: perchlorate oxidizes the pyridine, forming carbon, carbon dioxide, water and NO, while it itself is reduced into AgCl. In the next step, when AgClO.sub.4 forms after complete ligand loss and reacts with the carbon formed in the degradation of pyridine at lower temperatures and produces NO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O. This reaction becomes possible because the AgCl formed in the redox reactions makes a eutectic melt with AgClO.sub.4 in situ, which is a favorable medium for the carbon oxidation reaction. AgCl is known to reduce the temperature of decomposition of AgClO.sub.4, in which process forms AgCl as well as O.sub.2 and so is an autocatalytic process. The loss and degradation of pyridine ligand are endothermic; the redox reactions including carbon oxidation and AgClO.sub.4 decomposition into AgCl and O.sub.2 are exothermic. The amount of absorbed/evolved heats corresponding to these processes was determined by DSC both under N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 atmospheres.