A study of dimethyltin(IV)-L-cysteinate in aqueous solution

Gas-phase interactions of organotin compounds with cysteine

The gas-phase interactions of cysteine with di-organotin and tri-organotin compounds have been studied by mass spectrometry experiments and quantum calculations. Positive-ion electrospray spectra show that the interaction of di- and tri-organotins with cysteine results in the formation of [(R)₂ Sn(Cys-H)]⁺ and [(R)₃ Sn(Cys)]⁺ ions, respectively. MS/MS spectra of [(R)₂ Sn(Cys-H)]⁺ complexes are characterized by numerous fragmentation processes, notably associated with elimination of NH₃ and (C,H₂ ,O₂ ). Several dissociation routes are characteristic of each given organic species. Upon collision, both the [(R)₃ Sn(Gly)]⁺ and [(R)₃ Sn(Cys)]⁺ complexes are associated with elimination of the intact amino acid, leading to the formation of [(R)₃ Sn]⁺ cation. But for the latter complex, two additional fragmentation processes are observed, associated with the elimination of NH₃ and C₃ H₄ O₂ S. Calculations indicate that the interaction between organotins and cysteine is predominantly electrostatic but also exhibits a considerable covalent character, which is slightly more pronounced in tri-organotin complexes. A preferred bidentate interaction of the type -η² -S-NH₂ , with sulfur and the amino group, is observed. As for the [(R)₃ Sn(Cys)]⁺ complexes, their stability is due to the combination of the hydrogen bond taking place between the amino group and the sulfur lone pair and the interaction between the carboxylic oxygen atom and the metal. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Gas-phase interactions of organotin compounds with glycine

Gas-phase interactions of organotins with glycine have been studied by combining mass spectrometry experiments and quantum calculations. Positive-ion electrospray spectra show that the interaction of di- and tri-organotins with glycine results in the formation of [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) and [(R)3Sn(Gly)](+) ions, respectively. Di-organotin complexes appear much more reactive than those involving tri-organotins. (MS/MS) spectra of the [(R)3Sn(Gly)](+) ions are indeed simple and only show elimination of intact glycine, generating the [(R)3Sn](+) carbocation. On the other hand, MS/MS spectra of [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) complexes are characterized by numerous fragmentation processes. Six of them, associated with elimination of H2O, CO, H2O + CO and formation of [(R)2SnOH](+) (-57 u),[(R)2SnNH2](+) (-58 u) and [(R)2SnH](+) (-73 u), are systematically observed. Use of labeled glycines notably concludes that the hydrogen atoms eliminated in water and H2O + CO are labile hydrogens. A similar conclusion can be made for hydrogens of [(R2)SnOH](+) and [(R2)SnNH2](+) ions. Interestingly, formation [(R)2SnH](+) ions is characterized by a migration of one the α hydrogen of glycine onto the metallic center. Finally, several dissociation routes are observed and are characteristic of a given organic substituent. Calculations indicated that the interaction between organotins and glycine is mostly electrostatic. For [(R)2Sn(Gly)-H](+) complexes, a preferable bidentate interaction of the type η(2)-O,NH2 is observed, similar to that encountered for other metal ions. [(R)3Sn](+) ions strongly stabilize the zwitterionic form of glycine, which is practically degenerate with respect to neutral glycine. In addition, the interconversion between both forms is almost barrierless. Suitable mechanisms are proposed in order to account for the most relevant fragmentation processes.