POLYSULFONYLAMINES - PART-CIV[1] - SERENDIPITOUS ISOLATION AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE NOVEL IONIC DIMETHYLTIN(IV) COMPLEX )(4)](2-DOT-2(MESO2)(2)N-CENTER-DOT-2MECN()CENTER)

The title complex is the first authenticated example of a 1:4 adduct f ormed between a diorganyltin(IV) salt and an amine N-oxide. It was obt ained adventitiously on treating the dimeric hydroxide [Me2Sn{(MeSO2)( 2)N}(mu-OH)](2) with four equivalents of pyridine-1-oxide (pyo) in ace tonitrile, the co-products being Me2SnO and water. The crystal structu re, as determined by Xray difraction at -100 degrees C (triclinic, spa ce group PT, Z = 1), consists of trans-octahedral, centrosymmetric [Me 2Sn(pyo)(4)](2+) cations, non-coordinating (MeSO2)(2)N- anions and non coordinating MeCN molecules. Characteristic bond lengths and angles ar e as follows: Sn-C 211.6, Sn-O 221.0 and 223.1, N-O 134.8 and 134.5 pm , Sn-O-N 123.5 and 119.3, cis-angles at tin in the range 90 +/- 4.5 de grees; N-S 159.0 and 159.4 pm, S-N-S 121.3 degrees.