Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and crystal and molecular structures of {Ph4P[(SeO4)(SnPh3)(SnPh3X)]}(n) (X = Cl, Br)

The reactions of bis[triphenyltin(IV)] selenate monohydrate [(Ph3Sn)(2)O4Se .H2O] with tetraphenylphosphonium halides Ph4PX (X = Cl, Br) led to the fo rmation of 1:1 complexes of formula {Ph4P[(SeO4)(SnPh3)(SnPh3X)]n [X = Br ( I) or Cl (II)], which were characterized by infrared, Mossbauer and H-1,C-1 3 and Sn-119 NMR techniques and by X-ray diffractometry. The complexes have polymeric structures in which the [SnPh3](+) units alternate with bridging [SeO4](2-) units, each of which also bears an SnPh3X side chain. In both t he [SnPh3](+) and the [SnPh3X] units the coordination polyhedron of the tin atom is a distorted trigonal bipyramid.