Dimeric ethyl-tin(IV)-dibromide-hydroxide-N,N-di-methyl-formamide

Area of Science:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Crystallography

Background:

• Dimeric organotin(IV) compounds with halide and hydroxide ligands are known Lewis acid-base adducts.
• The structural features of these compounds, particularly the Sn-OH ring, influence their chemical properties.
• Understanding these structures is key to predicting reactivity and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel dimeric ethyl-tin(IV) compound.
• To elucidate the crystal structure of the synthesized compound.
• To investigate the presence and implications of the trans-strengthening effect in monoorganotin(IV) systems.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Di-μ-hydroxido-bis-[di-bromido-(di-methyl-formamide-κO)ethyl-tin(IV)] from ethyl-tin(IV) bromide and N,N-di-methyl-formamide (DMF).
• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to determine the molecular and crystal structure.
• Comparison of structural parameters with related dimeric organotin(IV) compounds.

Main Results:

• The crystal structure of [Sn2Br4(C2H5)2(OH)2(C3H7NO)2] was determined, showing two octahedrally coordinated Sn atoms linked by bridging hydroxide groups.
• A centrosymmetric, four-membered rhomboid-like Sn-OH ring was observed with distinct Sn-O bond lengths.
• The shorter Sn-O bond was found trans to the ethyl group, supporting the trans-strengthening effect.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized compound exhibits typical structural features of dimeric Lewis-base-stabilized monoorganotin(IV)-dihalide-hydroxides.
• The observed trans-strengthening effect in the Sn-OH ring provides further evidence for this phenomenon in monoorganotin(IV) compounds.
• Structural comparisons highlight similarities and differences across various dimeric organotin(IV) halide-hydroxide systems.