Chemistry of a novel family of tridentate alkoxy tin(II) clusters

The chemical interconversions observed for a novel family of trihydroxymethyl ethane (THME-H(3)) ligated Sn(II) compounds have been determined using single-crystal X-ray and (119)Sn NMR experiments. (mu-THME)(2)Sn(3) (1) was isolated from the reaction of 3 equiv of Sn(NR(2))(2)](2) (R = SiMe(3)) with 4 equiv of THME as a unique trinuclear species capped above and below the plane of Sn atoms by two THME ligands. Upon reaction with "Sn(NR(2))(2)", compound 1 rearranged to yield another novel molecule (mu-THME)Sn(2)(NR(2))](2) (2). Compound 2 could also be formed directly from the stoichiometric mixture of THME-H(3) and Sn(NR(2))(2)](2). Further studies revealed that 1 would also rearrange in the presence of Sn(OR)(2) to form (mu-THME)Sn(2)(mu-OR)](2) OR = OMe (3), OCH(2)Me (4), OCH(2)CH(Me)CH(2)CH(3) (5), OCH(2)CMe(3) (6, ONep), OC(6)H(5) (7, not structurally characterized), OC(6)H(4)Me-3 (8), OC(6)H(4)Me-2 (9), OC(6)H(3)(Me)(2)-2,6 (10), OC(6)H(3)(CHMe(2))(2)-2,6 (11). Additionally, 3-11 could by synthesized from the reaction of 2 and the appropriate H-OR. (119)Sn solution NMR studies of 2-11, in THF-d(8), indicate that an equilibrium between the parent complex and its disassociation products (1 and the free parent Sn alkoxy or amide precursor) exists at room temperature. This is a likely reason behind the ease of interconversion observed for 1. The generality of this exchange was further verified through the reaction of 1 with Ti(mu-ONep)(ONep)(3)](2), which led to the isolation of (mu-ONep)(2)Sn(3)(mu-THME)(2)Ti(ONep)(2) (12). For 12, the solid-state structure was maintained in solution with no indication of an equilibrium.