Solventless reactions for the synthesis of organotin clusters and cages

Organotin clusters and cages have been synthesized in quantitative yields by using a benign solventless synthetic methodology. Using this method a variety of structural forms, which include the drum, O-capped cluster, tetranuclear oxo cage, discrete, and polymeric compounds, have been synthesized. All these compounds (1-11) have been characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The new compounds, which include the hexameric drum [n-BuSn-(O)OCOAd](6) (Ad = adamantyl) 9, a triorganotin-based discrete structure Ph3SnO2C-C(6)H(2-)2,4,6-Me-3 (10), and a polymer Ph3SnOSO2-C6H3-2,5-Me-2 (11), have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.