Directed derivatization of organotin sulfide compounds: synthesis and self-assembly of an SnS backpack-like cage and a CuSnS ternary cluster

The organic functionalized, ternary CuSnS cluster [R^N₂{Sn(μ-S)₂Cu(PPh₂Me)}₄] (3; R^N = (CMe₂CH₂CMeNNH)₂CO) was obtained by a two-step reaction, first derivatization of carbonyl functionalized double-decker-like cage [(R¹Sn)₄(μ-S)₆] (R¹ = CMe₂CH₂COMe) using carbohydrazide, and ensuing reaction of the resulting hydrazone functionalized thiostannate [(R^NSn₂)₂(μ-S)₆] (1) with Na₂S·9H₂O and [CuCl(PPh₂Me)₃]; as confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry, the second step passes a thiostannate intermediate species, Na₂[R^N(SnS)₂(μ-S)₂] (2).