LUMINESCENCE QUENCHING AND PHOTOOXIDATION OF TRICHLOROSTANNATE(II) BYOXYGEN

The luminescence of [SnCl3](-) in acetonitrile (tau = 1.6 mu s) is que nched by oxygen with k = 3.8x10(8) L mol(-1) s(-1). This quenching is associated with an electron transfer from [SnCl3](-) in its P-3(1) sp- excited state to O-2. Secondary processes lead to the formation of SnO Cl2(CH3CN)(n) with an overall quantum yield of phi = 1.5 at lambda(irr ) = 254 nm. While this Sn(IV) complex is not light sensitive, [SnCl6]( 2-) in CH3CN undergoes a photochemical reductive elimination with the generation of [SnCl3](-) with phi = 0.015 at lambda(irr) = 254 nm.