Synthesis and Investigation of a Soluble Distannene with no Trans-Bent Angle or Twisting in the Solid-State.

By treating KSiiPr3 with Sn[N(SiMe3)2]2 the distannene Sn2(TIPS)4 (TIPS=SiiPr3) is formed in a metathesis reaction. The crystal structure analysis of Sn2(TIPS)4 reveals a planar arrangement of the substituents in the solid-state and hence the second planar alkene like distannene of its kind. Due to the TIPS substituents, Sn2(TIPS)4 is well soluble in all commonly used organic solvents, opening the door for various analytics and reactivity studies. Due to its stability in solution, various reactions can be performed such as cycloaddition reactions with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene (DMBD) and TMS-azide.

Higher stability of metalloid tin clusters obtained via the cation-anion interaction.

The reaction of a metastable SnCl solution with KR (R = Si(SiMe3)2(SitBuMe2) = HyptBuMe2 or Si(SiMe3)2(SiEt3) = HypEt3) gives the metalloid tin cluster [Sn10R4]2- in partly good yields. The tin clusters are in the solid state as well in solution coordinated by a potassium cation, leading first of all to a more static compound and novel coordination polymers in the solid state. Additionally, the coordination of the potassium cation strongly increases the stability of the cluster in solution. This higher stability is thereby an important prerequisite for future investigation of this open shell metalloid tin cluster.