Iron tris(dimethyldithiocarbamate) is the coordination complex of iron with dimethyldithiocarbamate with the formula Fe(S<sub>2</sub>CNMe<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub> (Me = methyl). It is marketed as a fungicide.
Iron tris(dithiocarbamate)s are typically are prepared by salt metathesis reactions.
Iron tris(dimethyldithiocarbamate) is an octahedral coordination complex of iron(III) with D<sub>3</sub> symmetry.
Spin crossover (SCO) was first observed in 1931 by Cambi et al. who discovered anomalous magnetic behavior for the tris(N,N-dialkyldithiocarbamatoiron(III) complexes. The spin states of these complexes are sensitive to the nature of the amine substituents.
Iron tris(dithiocarbamate)s react with nitric oxide to give a nitrosyl complex:
This efficient chemical trapping reaction provides a means to detect NO.
Reflecting the strongly donating properties of dithiocarbamate ligands, iron tris(dithiocarbamate)s oxidize at relatively mild potentials to give isolable iron(IV) derivatives [Fe(S<sub>2</sub>CNR<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>+</sup>.
Iron tris(dithiocarbamate)s react with hydrochloric acid to give the pentacoordinate chloride:
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal (permissible exposure limit) for ferbam exposure in the workplace as 15 mg/m<sup>3</sup> over an 8-hour workday. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 1 mg/m<sup>3</sup> over an 8-hour workday. At levels of 800 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, ferbam is immediately dangerous to life and health.