Synthesis, properties and crystal structural characterization of diorganotin(IV) derivatives of 2‐mercapto‐6‐nitrobenzothiazole

The diorganotin(IV) dichlorides R 2 SnCl 2 (R: Ph, PhCH 2 or n ‐Bu) react with 2‐mercapto‐6‐nitrobenzothiazole (MNBT) in benzene to give [Ph 2 SnCl(MNBT)] ( 1 ), [(PhCH 2 ) 2 Sn(MNBT) 2 ] ( 2 ) and [( n ‐Bu) 2 Sn(MNBT) 2 ] ( 3 ). The three complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and IR, 1 H, 13 C and 119 Sn NMR spectroscopies. X‐ray studies of the crystal structures of 1 , 2 and 3 show the following. The tin environment for complex 1 is distorted cis‐trigonal bipyramid with chlorine and nitrogen atoms in apical positions. The structure of complex 2 is a distorted octahedron with two benzyl groups in the axial sites. The geometry at the tin atom of complex 3 is that of an irregular octahedron. Interestingly, intra‐molecular non‐bonded Cl…S interactions and S…S interaction were recognized in the crystallographic structures of 1 and 3 respectively. As a result, complex 1 is a polymer and complex 3 is a dimer. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.