Synthesis and characterization of ω-functionalized propyl compounds of germanium and tin

• Hydrometallation of tin and germanium • Derivatization of ω-functionalized propyl germanes and stannanes • Application as catalyst in the urethane synthesis The immobilization of metal-organic catalysts on surfaces or within polymeric frameworks has a long technological tradition. The aim of this work is the synthesis and characterization of organotin and organogermanium compounds suitable for such immobilizations. One-step to multi-step synthetic protocols, including methods for dearylation and selective chlorination, provided access to various 3-hydroxypropyl- or 3-aminopropyl compounds of tin and germanium. All compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction provided insights into their structural features, including hydrogen bonding and Sn···O coordination. Additionally, the catalytic activity for urethane bond formation was evaluated for each compound. Selected tin derivatives exhibited significant activity in urethane formation. The activity depended on the degree of arylation and the nature of the functional groups. The results indicate that donor–metal interactions play a crucial role in catalytic performance and suggest that functionalized tin compounds may offer a viable strategy to reduce leaching by enabling covalent incorporation into polymer networks.