Stanna-closo-dodecaborate [Bu3MeN](2)[SnB11H11] reacts as a nucleophile wit
h the rhodium and iridium electrophiles of type [Cp*M(bipy ' )Cl][BF4] unde
r formation of a transition metal tin bond. The zwitterionic molecules [Cp*
M(bipy ') (SnB11H11)] (with M = Rh, Lr) were characterized by NMR spectrosc
opy, elemental analyses and X-ray crystal structure analyses. A high dipole
moment of 25.67 D was calculated by DFT methods in the case of the rhodium
derivative.