Alkylammonium hexachlorostannates(IV), (RnNH4−n)2SnCl6: crystal structure, infrared spectrum, and hydrogen bonding

Abstract

In an effort to advance our understanding of the principles governing the structures of and the hydrogen bonding in alkylammonium hexachlorostannates(IV), (RnNH4−n)2SnCl6, we have determined the room-temperature crystal structures of (Me2NH2)2SnCl6 and (Me3NH)2SnCl6 (variants of the antifluorite structure); (EtNH3)2SnCl6 and (n-PrNH3)2SnCl6 (anti-Cdl2 type, with orientational disorder in the Et compound); and (n-Pr3NH)2SnCl6. We have also studied the infrared spectra in the regions of the NH and ND stretching fundamentals, between 10 and 293 K, of these five compounds and of (MeNH3)2SnCl6, (Me3NH)2SnBr6, (Et2NH2)2SnCl6, (n-Bu3NH)2SnCl6 and, in less detail, the mixed-anion salt (n-Pr2NH2)3(SnCl6)Cl. The spectra are often complicated by Ferim resonance involving absorptions diagnostically critical for the strength and type of [Formula: see text] bonding and for the site symmetry at the N atom. In this respect they are less useful than the corresponding spectra of the unsubstituted ammonium compounds reported previously. Several of the spectra provide striking examples of temperature-tuned Fermi resonance of NH and ND vibrations. The [Formula: see text] bonds are invariably trifurcated, bifurcated, or at least highly bent; these characteristics give rise to anomalous temperature dependence of the frequencies of the NH and ND stretching fundamentals. Temperature-induced transitions were detected in (Me2NH2)2SnCl6 (Ttr ~ 100 K), Et NH3)2SnCl6 (Ttr ~ 125 K), and (Et2NH2)2SnCl6 (Ttr ~ 330 K). The specific results for the ten compounds studied arc discussed in detail. The discussion also includes the limits of usefulness of the isotopisc dilution technique; symmetry aspects of the cation–anion packing in alkylammonium hexahalometallates(IV); symmetries of the arrangements of the SnCl6 octahedra; the geometry of hydrogen bonding in (RnNH4−n)2SnCl6; and the possibility of detection of the presence of hydrogen bonding from molecular volume trends.