Organotin catalysts in organosilicon chemistry

Organotin compounds are best known in the chemical industry as PVC stabilizers, polyurethane foam formers and antifungal agents. However, they have also been widely used in the silicon industry for decades for curing organosilicon polymers, despite the fact that neither the mechanism through which the siloxane bonds are formed nor their inherent toxicity are completely understood. This review gives an account of the use of organotin compounds in the preparation of diverse polysiloxane‐containing materials via cross‐linking with either organic or inorganic polymers. As they are common ingredients for this application, a brief outline of the preparation of relevant silicon‐containing compounds, as well as their reactivity, are given. In addition, since there is some evidence that stannasiloxanes formed in situ during the reaction play a determinant role as intermediates in the reaction mechanism, an overview of the synthesis and reactivity of Sn‐O‐Si‐containing compounds is also presented. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.