Alcoholysis of (2-methoxycarbonyl)ethyltin compounds

Under acid or base catalysis, di(2-alkoxycarbonylethyl)tin dichlorides of various R groups, (ROCOCH₂CH₂)₂SnCl₂, can be prepared conveniently in high yield by alcoholysis of (CH₃OCOCH₂CH₂)₂SnCl₂ in various alcohols, ROH (R = C₂H₅, C₄H₉, iso-C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₆H₅CH₂, C₄H₉CH(C₂H₅)CH₂). When excess acid or base is present in the aqueous solution, (ROCOCH₂CH₂)₂SnCl₂ eliminate ROH and precipitate as C₆H₈O₄Sn regardless of the R group. C₆H₈O₄Sn can be converted into various (ROCOCH₂CH₂)₂SnCl₂ derivatives on dissolving in alcoholic HCl solutions.