An Unusual Reaction of (β‐Dimethylaminoethoxy)triethyltin with Phenyltin Trichloride. The First X‐ray Structural Evidence of the Existence of Complexes R₂SnXY·R₂SnXY (R = Alkyl, Aryl; X, Y = Hal, OR, X ≠ Y) Both as Unsymmetrical Adducts [R₂SnX₂·R₂SnY₂] and Symmetrical Dimers [R₂SnXY]₂

Abstract

Abstract The substituent exchange reaction of PhSnCl 3 with [Et 3 Sn(OCH 2 CH 2 NMe 2 )] gives rise unexpectedly to the unsymmetrical adduct [Ph 2 SnCl 2 · Ph 2 Sn(OCH 2 CH 2 NMe 2 ) 2 ] ( 2 ). It has been unambiguously proved for the first time that compounds of the RSnX 3 type are able to undergo the hydrocarbon substituent redistribution reaction. The analogous tin complexes [Et 2 SnCl 2 · Et 2 Sn(OMe) 2 ] ( 5 ) and [Bu 2 Sn(OAc) 2 · Bu 2 Sn(OMe) 2 ] ( 6 ), which have ligands other than β‐dimethylaminoethoxy and could be considered as “organotin analogs of Grignard reagents” have symmetrical dimeric structures, i.e., can be formulated as [Bu 2 Sn(OMe)(OAc)] 2 and [Et 2 Sn(OMe)Cl] 2 , respectively. Both types of structures, viz., unsymmetrical adduct ( 2 ) and symmetrical dimer ( 5 , 6 ), have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)