The N-alkyldithiocarbamato complexes [M(S2CNHR)2] (M=Cd(II) Zn(II); R=C2H5, C4H9, C6H13, C12H25); their synthesis, thermal decomposition and use to prepare of nanoparticles and nanorods of CdS.

A series of N-alkyldithiocarbamato complexes [M(S2CNHR)2] (M=Cd(II), Zn(II); R=C2H5, C4H9, C6H13, C12H25) have been synthesised and characterized. The decomposition of these complexes to sulfates has been investigated, and a mechanism proposed. The structures of [Zn(S2CNHHex)2], [Cd(SO4)2(NC5H5)4)]n and [Cd(SO4)2(NC5H5)2(H2O)2)]n have been determined by X-ray single crystal method. The cadmium complex [Cd(S2CNHC12H25)2] and zinc complex [Zn(S2CNHC6H13)2] were used as single-source precursors to synthesize CdS and ZnS nanoparticles, respectively. The synthesis of CdS nanoparticles was carried under various thermolysis conditions and changes in the shape of derived nanoparticles were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM).