Structural study on a sulfido-bridged dinuclear organotin(IV) complex with weak Sn ··· Sn bonding

Abstract

A dinuclear anionic complex, Bu₄N[Me₂SnCl(S)ClSnMe₂Br], has been synthesized in chloroform solution by reacting (Me₂SnS)₃, Me₂SnCl₂, and Bu₄NBr. Attempts to isolate the anionic complex using tetramethylammonium cation were unsuccessful. The anion possesses two five-coordinate tin(IV) units bridged by sulfide and bromide. X-ray diffraction study revealed the possibility of a weak Sn–Sn bond in the complex. Theoretical (DFT) studies have been carried out to analyze the nature of metal–metal interaction in the complex.

Keywords:

• Organotin sulfide
• Weak interaction
• Metal–metal bonding
• Bimetallic complex

Acknowledgment

Financial support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India, is gratefully acknowledged.