Transients from a mixture of [(R(O)Sn)2C(CH3)2]2 and (RCl2Sn)2C(CH3)2 [R = (SiMe3)2CH]: an identification in situ by 1D 119Sn and 2D 1H?119Sn HMQC NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry

The reaction of the 2,2‐bis(organodichlorostannyl)propane [(Me₃Si)₂CH(Cl₂)Sn]₂CMe₂ (A) with the corresponding organotin oxide {[(Me₃Si)₂CH(O)Sn]₂CMe₂}₂ (B) does not provide the corresponding normally expected tetraorganodistannoxane {[(Me₃Si)₂CH(Cl)SnCMe₂Sn(Cl)CH(SiMe₃)₂]O}_n but a complex reaction mixture. One major product, namely the 2,4,6,8‐tetraorgano‐2,6‐dichloro‐1,5,9‐trioxa‐2,4,6,8‐tetrastannabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivative [(Me₃Si)₂CHSnCMe₂Sn(Cl)CH(SiMe₃)₂]₂O₃ (C) was identified in situ by 2D ¹H? ¹¹⁹Sn and ¹H? ¹³C heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation NMR spectroscopy as well as electrospray mass spectrometry. Compound C is proposed to be in equilibrium with an ionic species C′, the cation of which has an adamantane‐type structure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.