A convenient route to distannanes, oligostannanes, and polystannanes

Abstract

The quantitative conversion of the tertiary stannane (n-Bu)3SnH (2) into (n-Bu)6Sn2 (4) was achieved by heating the neat hydride material under low pressure or under closed inert atmosphere conditions. A 31% conversion of Ph3SnH (3) to Ph6Sn2 (5) was also observed under low pressure; however, under closed inert atmosphere conditions afforded Ph4Sn (6) as the major product. A mixed distannane, (n-Bu)3SnSnPh3 (7), can also be prepared in good yield utilizing an equal molar ratio of 2 and 3 and the same reaction conditions used to prepare 4. This solvent-free, catalyst-free route to distannanes was extended to a secondary stannane, (n-Bu)2SnH2 (8), which yielded evidence (NMR) for hydride terminated distannane H(n-Bu)2SnSn(n-Bu)2H (9), the polystannane [(n-Bu)2Sn]n (10), and various cyclic stannanes [(n-Bu)2Sn]n=5,6 (11, 12). Further evidence for 10 was afforded by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) where a broad, moderate molecular weight, but highly dispersed polymer, was obtained (Mw = 1.8 × 104 Da, polydispersity index (PDI) = 6.9) and a characteristic UV–vis absorbance (λmax) of ≈370 nm observed.