Association and fragmentation of imidotin(II) complexes containing donor-functionalised peripheries; towards new three-dimensional main group metal ligands

Structural studies of a series of tin(II) imido cubanes, [SnNR](4) , containing donor-functionalised organic substituents (R), have allowed the systematic investigation of the factors controlling and affecting associat ion of these architypal tin(II) complexes in the solid state. In addition t o steric shielding of the Sn4N4 cores, intra- and inter-molecular O and N d onation modifies or curtails association via Sn . . . Sn interactions, and can even facilitate fragmentation of the cubane cores.