Impact of a rigid backbone on the structure of an agostically-stabilised dialkylstannylene: isolation of an unusual bridged stannyl–stannylene

Abstract

The reaction between the phosphine–borane-stabilised dicarbanion complex [1,2-C₆H₄{CHP(BH₃)Cy₂}₂][Li(THF)_n]₂ and Cp₂Sn gives the unusual stannyl–stannylene [[1,2-C₆H₄{CHP(BH₃)Cy₂}₂]Sn]₂·1½PhMe, in which one dicarbanion ligand chelates a tin centre, while the other bridges a tin–tin bond. The stannylene centre is stabilised by an agostic-type B–H⋯Sn interaction.