Synthesis and characterization of di‐n‐butyltin(IV) complexes with 4′/2′‐nitrobiphenyl‐2‐carboxylic acids: X‐ray crystal structures of [{(n‐C4H9)2Sn(OCOC12H8NO2−4′)}2O]2 and (n‐C4H9)2Sn{OCOC12H8NO2−4′}2

Reactions of di‐n‐butyltin(IV) oxide with 4′/2′‐nitrobiphenyl‐2‐carboxylic acids in 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 stoichiometry yield complexes {(n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′/2′)}₂O]₂ ( 1 and 2 ) and (n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′/2′)₂ ( 3 and 4 ) respectively. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy. The IR spectra of these compounds indicate the presence of anisobidentate carboxylate groups and non‐linear C? Sn? C bonds. From the chemical shifts δ (¹¹⁹Sn) and the coupling constants ¹J(¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn), the coordination number of the tin atom and the geometry of its coordination sphere have been suggested. {(n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′)}₂O]₂ ( 1 ) exhibits a dimeric structure containing distannoxane units with two types of tin atom with essentially identical geometry. To a first approximation, the tin atoms appear to be pentacoordinated with distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. However, each type of tin atom is further subjected to a sixth weaker interaction and may be described as having a capped trigonal bipyramidal structure. The diffraction study of the complex (n‐C₄H₉)₂Sn(OCOC₁₂H₈NO₂?4′)₂ ( 3 ) shows a six–coordinate tin in a distorted octahedral frame containing bidentate asymmetric chelating carboxylate groups, with the n‐Bu groups trans to each other. The n‐Bu? Sn? n‐Bu angle is 152.8° and the Sn? O distances are 2.108(4) and 2.493(5) Å. The oxygen atom of the nitro group of the ligand does not participate in bonding to the tin atom in 1 and 3 . Crystals of 1 are triclinic with space group P1 and of that of 3 have orthorhombic space group Pnna. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.