C,N-chelated organotin(IV) trifluoroacetates. Instability of the mono- and diorganotin(IV) derivatives.

The C,N-chelated tri-, di- and monoorganotin(IV) halides react with equimolar amounts of CF₃COOAg to give corresponding C,N-chelated organotin(IV) trifluoroacetates. The set of prepared tri-, di- and monoorganotin(IV) trifluoroacetates bearing the L^CN ligand (where L^CN is 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl-) was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses, multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy. In the case of triorganotin(IV) trifluoroacetates and (L^CN)₂Sn(OC(O)CF₃)₂, no tendency to form hydrolytic products, or instability towards the moisture was observed. L^CNRSn(OC(O)CF₃)₂ (where R is n-Bu or Ph) and L^CNSn(OC(O)CF₃)₃ forms upon crystallization from THF in the air mainly dinuclear complexes in which the two tin atoms are interconnected either by hydroxo-bridges or by an oxo-bridge and/or by a bridging trifluoroacetate(s). In the case of hydrolysis of L^CN(n-Bu)Sn(OC(O)CF₃)₂, a zwitterionic stannate of formula L^CN(n-Bu)Sn(OC(O)CF₃)₂·CF₃COOH was isolated from the mother liquor, too. Products of hydrolysis of L^CN(n-Bu)Sn(OC(O)CF₃)₂ and L^CNSn(OC(O)CF₃)₃, and some other oxygen bridged organotin(IV) compounds containing the same ligand, were tested as possible catalysts of some transesterification reactions as well as in direct dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from CO₂ and methanol.