Planar dithiooxamides form stable complexes with Au(III)- and Cu(I)-ions. The neutral Au(LH)X-2 (LH2=RHNCSCSNHR)-complexes decompose without forming any intermediate. The ionic A[Au(L)(2)] (A=Li, Na, K) are mainly stabilized by the lattice forces. In the [Au(LH2)Br-2]Br-complex the release of 1HBr per molecule occurs in two steps to form the more stable Au(LH)Br-2. The neutral Cu(LH2)(2)X (X=Cl, Pr, I) decompose to form the more stable Cu(LH2)X. The Cu(LH2)X-complexes disproportionate to form (CuL)(x) polymers, Cu, ligand and HX. The Cu(CH3HNCSCSNHCH3)I shows the formation of a stable Cu-4(CH3HNCSCSNHCH3)I-4 and the ligand at 200 degrees C.