The synthesis and some properties of ethylxanthate (Xan−) complexes, MXan2 and MXan3− (M = manganese(II) and iron(II)) are reported. Reactions between divalent metal halides (manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc) and Xan− and between the metal halides and N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (dtc−) in the presence of nitrogen bases 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy) are described. The major products of these reactions are complexes of the type MXan2.Base and Mdtc2.Base (with notable exceptions). In the former series with bipy, two different crystalline modifications of the manganese, iron, and cobalt complexes are formed, and copper(II) is reduced to copper(I) by Xan− in the presence of both bases. In the nickel–dtc system with bipy, Nidtc2 is produced, while with phen, the complex [Niphen3]dtc2 is formed. The latter reacts very rapidly with methylene chloride. Cudtc2 is produced from the copper(II)/base/dtc reactions.
