Controlled hydrolysis of the cubane [(SnNBu)-Bu-t](4) with H2O in thf-MeCN
provides a direct route to the oxo complex [Sn-4((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)O], reaction
of which with naphNHLi (naph = 1-naphthyl) gives the heteroleptic cubane [
Sn-4((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)(Nnaph)] as the sole product.