The co-ordination chemistry of TIN(IV) halides with chelating group 16 donor ligands

SnX4 reacts with thio-, seleno- and telluro-ethers in dry CHCl3 solution to give the six coordinate species [SnX4(Me2E)(2)] [X=Cl, Pr or I; E = S, Se or Te] or [SnX4(L-L) [L-L = RE(CH2)(n)ER or o-C6H4(EMe)(2) where R = Me or Ph, n = 1-3 for E = S or Se, and n = 1 or 3 for E = Te] in high yields as p ale white or yellow powdered solids. The ditelluroether compounds are very unstable, but their poor solubility aided isolation. X-Ray structural studi es of the complexes formed confirm an E2X4 donor set with the bidentate lig and chelating. Variable-temperature solution NMR studies show the complexes are extremely labile and ligand dissociation and pyramidal inversion are f ast except at low temperatures.