Dibutyltin(IV) oxide reacts with the cantharidin analogue, 4'-(7-oxabicyclo [2,2,1]-5-heptane-2,3-dicarboximide) benzoic acid, A, to give the complexes [(p-C8H8NO3-C6H4-COOBu2Sn)(2)O](2) (1) and (p-C8H8NO3-C6H4-COO)(2)SnBu2 (2) which had been characterized by IR and H-1, C-13, Sn-119 NMR. Single X-ray crystal structure analysis has been determined for compound (1), which was analogue to most other [(RCOOBu2Sn)(2)O](2). The dimer features central of Bu4SnO2 unit with the two Bu2Sn groups being linked via bridging oxygen atom. Each tin atom adopts distorted trigonal bipyramidal structures via two carbons from a dibutyl moiety and three oxygen atoms from cantharidin derivative and bridging oxygen atom. In vitro tests show compounds I and 2 exhibit high cytotoxicity against P388 and HL-60. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.