Solvent dependent ester elimination reactions in the preparation of mixed-metal oxo clusters: the synthesis of PbSn2(µ3-O)(OBut)4(OAc)4

Abstract

The reaction between Sn(OBu^t)₄ and Pb(OAc)₄ has been studied as a function of the nature of the reaction solvent: in refluxing toluene, ester elimination results in the quantitative formation of PbSn₂(µ₃-O)(OBu^t)₄(OAc)₄ which has been characterized in solution by ¹H, ¹¹⁹Sn and ²⁰⁷Pb NMR and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, whereas in pyridine, reaction of the same two species results in ligand exchange forming Sn(OBu^t)₃(OAc)·pyridine and Pb(OAc)₃(OBu^t).