Synthesis and characterization of a diarylstannylene bearing (MeO)EPind groups and its oxidation reactions

Abstract A new diarylstannylene, [(MeO)EPind]2Sn: (1), has been synthesized and isolated using a novel protecting group, (MeO)EPind, which incorporates an electron-donating methoxy chain at the para position of the EPind group. The structure and electronic properties of 1 were investigated using crystallographic and spectroscopic methods as well as DFT calculations. The reaction of 1 with N2O gas produced a diarylstannanone, [(MeO)EPind]2Sn=O (2), which subsequently reacted with H2O to afford a stannanediol, [(MeO)EPind]2Sn(OH)2 (3). We also examined the reaction of 1 with elemental sulfur (S8), which resulted in the formation of a mixture containing diarylstannanethione, [(MeO)EPind]2Sn=S (4) and 1,2,3,4,5-tetrathiastannolane, [(MeO)EPind]2SnS4 (5). The structural features and bonding nature of these Sn(IV) compounds have been both experimentally and theoretically characterized.