<i>Rangoli</i> with Tin Drums:  C−H- - -O Bond-Assisted Supramolecular Grids Involving Organostannoxane Clusters

Abstract

The reaction of n -BuSn(O)OH with RCOOH affords hexameric compounds [ n -BuSn(O)OC(O)R] 6, R = CH 2 C 5 H 4 FeC 5 H 5 ( 1 ) and 2,4,6-Me 3 C 6 H 2 ( 2 ). The compounds 1 and 2 have drum-like structures with a prismane type Sn 6 O 6 core. Both 1 and 2 form supramolecular 2D grid-like assemblies as a result of intermolecular C−H- - -O bonds between the ferrocenyl C−H and the carboxylate oxygen in the case of compound 1 and the C−H of the p -CH 3 group and the carboxylate oxygen in the case of compound 2 . In each case six stannoxane molecules surround a central hexameric stannoxane in a highly symmetric manner, although C−H- - -O bonds connect only four molecules together. The overall architecture of the supramolecular assembly is reminiscent of a highly repetitive decorative pattern.