Synthesis, structures and preliminary biological screening of bis(diphenyl)chlorotin complexes and adducts: Ph2ClSn-CH2-R-CH2-SnClPh2, R = p-C6H4, CH2CH2

The reaction between ClCH₂-R-CH₂Cl, R = p-C₆H₄, and Ph₃Sn]⁻Li⁺ yields Ph₃Sn-CH₂-R-CH₂-SnPh₃ (1) in high yield. The related known compound R = CH₂CH₂ (1a) is synthesized by the reaction of the di-Grignard reagent BrMg(CH₂)₄MgBr with two equivalents of Ph₃SnCl. Cleavage of a single Sn-Ph group at each tin centre of both compounds using HCl/Et₂O yields the corresponding bis-chlorostannanes Ph₂ClSn-CH₂-R-CH₂-SnClPh₂, R = (CH₂)₄ (2) and R = C₆H₄ (3), respectively. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 are crystalline solid materials and their single crystal X-ray structures are reported. In the solid state both 2 and 3 form self-assembled ladder structures involving alternating intermolecular Cl-Sn?Cl and Cl?Sn-Cl bonded chains at both ends of the distannanes with 5-coordinate tin atoms. Recrystallization of 3 from CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of DMF yields the bis-DMF adduct (4) in which no self-assembled structures were noted. Evaluation of the chlorostannanes 2 and 3 against a suite of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Photobacterium phosphoreum is reported and compared to the related mono-chlorostannanes Ph₂(CH₃)SnCl and Ph₂(PhCH₂)SnCl.