Reaction of the chiral lithium stannate [HC{SiMe2N[ (S)-CH(Me)Ph]}(3)SnLi(t
hf)] (1) with Me3SnCl gave the corresponding distannane [HC{SiMe2N[(S)-CH(M
e)Ph]}(3)Sn-SnMe3] (2) in good yield. Its [2,2,2]bicyclooctane-related cage
structure, comprising the trisilylsilane unit and the triamido-tin fragmen
t, as well as the Sn-Sn bond (2.7978(15)-2.8020(15) Angstrom in the three c
rystallographically independent molecules) were established by a single cry
stal X-ray structure analysis: Space proup P3, Z = 3, lattice dimensions at
293(2) K: a=17.724(3), c=10.597(2) Angstrom, R = 0.0374.