A new method for the preparation of bis(bistrimethylsilylmethyl)tin(II) Sn[CH(SiMe3)2]2 and lts molecular structure has been determined by gas electron diffraction. Prediction of non-planar, trans-folded ground state structures for digermene (Ge2H4) and distannene (Sn2H4)

Abstract

Reduction of SnCl₂R₂[R = CH(SiMe₃)₂](Li₂C₈H₈) provides SnR₂, which in the gas phase (electron diffraction) is a V-shaped monomer with <CSnC 96(1)° and Sn–C 224(1) pm; ab initio M.O. calculations predict non-planar trans-folded equilibrium structures for the ethene analogues Ge₂H₄ and Sn₂H₄.