Synthesis, crystal structures and spectroscopic properties of dichloroethylphenyltin(IV) and its phenanthroline adduct

The reaction of dichloroethylphenyltin(IV), Ph(Et)SnCl 2 , with phenanthroline monohydrate (phen·H 2 O) in chloroform, in 1:1 mole ratio, afforded [Ph(Et)SnCl 2 (phen)]. The crystal structures of dichloroethylphenyltin(IV) and its phenanthroline adduct were studied by X‐ray diffraction. In Ph(Et)SnCl 2 the tin atom is in a distorted tetrahedral environment, the distortion probably being imposed by weak intermolecular Sn· · ·Cl interactions. In [Ph(Et)SnCl 2 (phen)] the tin atom is in an octahedral trans ‐C 2 , cis ‐Cl 2 , N 2 environment and weak intermolecular C–H· · ·Cl interactions connect the molecules throughout the lattice. Spectroscopic studies in solution ( 1 H, 13 C and 119 Sn NMR) were also carried out; the 1 H and 13 C NMR data in dimethylsulfoxide suggest that [Ph(Et)SnCl 2 (phen)] remains at least partially undissociated in this solvent. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.