A preliminary study has been made of the UV photolysis of metal‐organic compounds of Hg, Cd, and Te which could be used for low temperature, selective area deposition of cadmium mercury telluride (CMT). High resolution UV absorption spectra have been measured for dimethylcadmium , dimethylmercury , and diethyltelluride. Possible modes for photodissociation are discussed in light of these results. The photodissociation of these alkyls was attempted in a hydrogen stream at atmospheric pressure using a mercury‐xenon lamp, deposition being onto a silica reaction tube. Yields of Cd, Hg, and Te were measured under different deposition conditions to determine the dependence on UV intensity, alkyl concentration, and flow velocity.