Tin dithiocarbamates: applications and structures

The uses and potential utility of tin/organotin dithiocarbamate, -S2CNR'(2), compounds are reviewed. Various derivatives exhibit exciting potential as anti-cancer agents, anti-microbial agents and insecticides, e.g. against mosquito larvae. Tin dithiocarbamates have also proven useful as precursors for tin sulfide nanoparticles. There is a wealth of structural data available for such compounds and with the exception of the diorganotin bis(dithiocarbamate) compounds, R2Sn(S2CNR'(2))(2), compounds for which different structural motifs are evident, there is a certain degree of homogeneity in the molecular structures for each class of compound unless there are additional coordination sites on the R and/or R' groups. Owing to the strong coordination potential of the dithiocarbamate ligand for tin, supramolecular aggregates involving secondary Sn center dot center dot center dot S interactions are the exception rather than the norm. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.