Synthesis of a novel binuclear chlorotin(II) alkyl and a lithium trialkylstannate zwitterionic cage molecule: Crystal structures of [Sn(Cl)R-N](2) and [(SnR3N)Li(mu(3)-Cl)Li(tmeda)](2) [R-N=CH((SiBuMe2)-Me-t)C5H4N-2]

The reaction of SnCl2 with [LiRN(tmeda)](2) [R-N = CH((SiBuMe2)-Me-t)C5H4N- 2; tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine)] in various stoichiometric ratios afforded a binuclear chlorotin(II) alkyl [Sn(Cl)R-N](2) (1) and zwi tterionic lithium trialkylstannate complexes [{(SnR3N)Li}{(mu(3)-Cl)(Li(tme da)(2)}(mu-Cl)] (2) and [{(SnR3N)Li}(mu(3)-Cl)Li-(tmeda)](2) (3). X-ray str ucture analysis has shosrm that the anionic N-functionalized allryl ligand (RN)- i, 1 acts as a bridging ligand joining the two tin atoms to form an e ight-membered ring in a "boat" conformation. Compounds 2 and 3 consist of o ne and two lithium trialkylstannate ion pairs [SnR3N]Li--(+) bound to the c hlorine atom of the [LiCl(tmeda)](2) fragment, respectively. The lithium io n in the ion pair is coordinated via the pyridyl nitrogens to form a cage.