We report the use of cheap, readily accessible and easy to handle di-isobutyl-dithiocarbamate complexes,
[M(S2CNi
Bu2)n], as single source precursors (SSPs) to ternary sulfides of iron–nickel, iron–copper and
nickel–cobalt. Varying decomposition temperature and precursor concentrations has a significant effect
on both the phase and size of the nanomaterials, and in some instances meta-stable phases are
accessible. Decomposition of [Fe(S2CNi
Bu2)3]/[Ni(S2CNi
Bu2)2] at ca. 210–230 �C affords metastable
FeNi2S4 (violarite) nanoparticles, while at higher temperatures the thermodynamic product (Fe,Ni)9S8
(pentlandite) results. Addition of tetra-isobutyl-thiuram disulfide to the decomposition mixture can
significantly affect the nature of the product at any particular temperature-concentration, being
attributed to suppression of the intramolecular Fe(III) to Fe(II) reduction. Attempts to replicate this simple
approach to ternary metal sulfides of iron–indium and iron–zinc were unsuccessful, mixtures of binary
metal sulfides resulting. Oleylamine is non-innocent in these transformations, and we propose that SSP
decomposition occurs via primary–secondary backbone amide-exchange with primary dithiocarbamate
complexes, [M(S2CNHoleyl)n], being the active decomposition precursors
