Ligand driven assembly of a monoorganooxotin cage from the reactions of organotin precursors with phosphonate ligands

Abstract

The reaction of n-BuSn(OH)2Cl with t-BuP(O)(OH)2 in a 1:2 ratio in refluxing toluene or stirring in acetonitrile at room temperature forms the monoorganooxotin cage, [(n-BuSn)2O{O 2P(OH)-t-Bu}4]2 1 in good yields. The reaction conditions have been varied to optimize the yield of the oxo cluster. An intermediate leading to the formation of 1 has been identified by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Compound 1 can be used as a single-source precursor for the formation of SnP2O7 by a low temperature decomposition process at 750°C.