Stereochemistry of six coordinate organotin(IV) compounds with bidentate ligands

Abstract

Extended ligand–ligand repulsion calculations have been applied to a number of six coordinate organotin complexes of the type RR′Sn(bidentate)2 (R, R′ = Me, Ph, Cl). Qualitatively, the calculations readily predict the decrease in the R—Sn—R′ angle with decrease in bite size of the bidentate ligand. The steric calculations are generally successful in predicting both the cis–trans preference of the R groups and the bond angles about the Sn atom. For the Me2Sn complexes, electronic effects (as expressed by Bent's rule) sometimes have to be used in conjunction with the steric calculations to rationalize the observed stereochemistry.