Alkenyl derivatives of the metals. Oxidative addition to intermediate tin(II) alkenyls; isolation, and crystal and molecular structure of n-butyltris(triphenylethenyl)tin(IV)

Abstract

Reaction of tin(II) chloride with Li(CPhCPh₂) at –78 °C in diethyl ether–hexane–tetrahydrofuran affords a deep red solution whose colour fades on warming, and which we believe contains the (unstable) first dialkenyltin(II) species. The latter survives long enough at low temperatures to undergo intermolecular oxidative addition, and one such adduct leads ultimately to the formation of Sn(CPhCPh₂)₃Buⁿ, which has been fully characterised including a crystal and molecular structure study. The mechanism of formation of the final product has been examined and results are reported.