A dithiocarbamate is a functional group

Functional group

In organic chemistry, functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reaction regardless of the size of the molecule it is a part of...

 in organic chemistry

Organic chemistry

Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...

. It is the analog of a carbamate

Carbamate

Carbamates are organic compounds derived from carbamic acid . A carbamate group, carbamate ester, and carbamic acids are functional groups that are inter-related structurally and often are interconverted chemically. Carbamate esters are also called urethanes.-Synthesis:Carbamic acids are derived...

 in which both oxygen atoms are replaced by sulfur atoms. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate is the organosulfur compound with the formula NaS2CN2.-Preparation:This salt is obtained by treating carbon disulfide with diethylamine in the presence of sodium hydroxide:Other dithiocarbamates can be prepared similarly from secondary amines and carbon disulfide...

 is a common ligand in inorganic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry

Inorganic chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds , which are the subjects of organic chemistry...

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Most primary and secondary amines react with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide to form dithiocarbamates. They are used as ligands for chelating metals. Dithiocarbamates readily react with many metal salts such as copper, ferrous, ferric, cobaltous, and nickel salts and are mostly found as octahedral complexes.