Main group metal directed self-assembly in a tetrameric trimethyltin(IV) N-nitroso-N-phenylhydroxylaminato complex containing an unprecedented 20-membered inorganic (carbon-free) metallamacrocycle

Tetrakis [trimethyl(N-nitroso-N-phenylhydroxylaminato)tin(IV)] was synthesi zed by reaction of cupferron ([PhN(O)NO]NH4) with trimethyltin(IV) chloride . The complex was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, FT-IR and FT -Raman spectroscopy. An X-ray structural analysis of the title complex [Me3 Sn(O2N2Ph)](4) reveals the first example of a bridging coordinated cupferro nato ligand. This coordination pattern leads to an unprecedented inorganic 20-membered (carbon-free) metallamacrocycle Sn4O8N8 in which four Me3Sn and four PhN2O2 subunits are self-assembled.