A High Yield Synthesis of an Octastannacubane and a Bis(silyl) Stannylene via Reductive Elimination of a Silane

Thermolysis of tris(silyl) tin hydride 2 at 70 °C for 3 hours results in elimination of tBu₂ MeSiH and generation of bis(silyl) stannylene 3 which dimerizes instantaneously yielding distannene 4. Compound 3 can be trapped by NHC^Me yielding stannylene-NHC^Me complex 5. Upon heating (70 °C, 24 h) 4 yields stannyl radical 8 along with pentastannatricyclo[2.1.0.0^2, 5 ]pentane 10 (ca. 30 %) and traces (ca. 5 %) of the novel octastannacubane 9. Remarkably, octastannacubane 9 is produced in 70 % yield by mild heating (50 °C) of 1,1,2,2-tetrasilyldistannane 11, along with tBu₂ MeSiH. Octastannacubane 9 was characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Based on DFT quantum-mechanical calculations the 11 → 9 transformation occurs via reductive elimination of two tBu₂ MeSiH molecules from 11 yielding a distannyne, (or its bis-stannylene isomer), followed by its tetramerization.

Reductive dehydrocoupling of diphenyltin dihydride with LiAlH4: selective synthesis and structures of the first bicyclo[2.2.1]heptastannane-1,4-diide and bicyclo[2.2.2]octastannane-1,4-diide

The reaction of diphenyltin dihydride with LiAlH4 gives access to a set of charged tin cages as their lithium salts. Variation in the ratio of reactants provides a perstannabicyclooctane dianion and a perstannanorbornane as the di- and monoanions. These compounds can be synthesised selectively by careful stoichiometric control and have been characterised by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Computational exploration of the electronic structures of these compounds was undertaken and, in agreement with structural and spectroscopic features, indicated significant σ-delocalisation in the tin skeletons.

Sn20(SitBu3)10Cl2 – the largest metalloid group 14 cluster shows a raspberry-like arrangement of smaller units

The reaction of a metastable Sn(i)Cl solution with NaSi^tBu₃ leads to Sn₂₀(Si^tBu₃)₁₀C_l2, where a raspberry-like cluster of cluster arrangement is realized, giving further insight into the formation process of a metalloid tin cluster from molecular precursors.

Synthesis and Structure of Sn14Cl6(CH2SiMe3)12: Toward Nanoclusters of 4-Coordinate α-Sn

Orange crystals of a Sn₁₄ cluster have been isolated in up to 22% yield from a reaction between Me₃SiCH₂SnCl₃, SnCl₄, and LiAlH₄. The structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows three unique Sn atoms in a 6:6:2 ratio, with all Sn atoms 4-coordinate, similar to the tetrahedral bonding in elemental gray Sn. The solid state ¹¹⁷Sn MAS NMR spectrum shows the three types of distinct Sn atoms in the expected 3:3:1 intensity ratio with respective chemical shifts of 87.9, -66.6, and -607.1 ppm relative to Me₄Sn. The chemical shift of the two Sn atoms without ligands (bonded only to Sn), at -607.1 ppm, is the most upfield, and is the closest to the chemical shift, reported here, of bulk gray tin (-910 ppm). First-principles density functional theory calculations of the chemical shielding tensors corroborate this assignment. While the core coordination is distorted from the ideal tetrahedral arrangement in the diamond structure of gray tin, this Sn₁₄ cluster, as the largest reported cluster with all 4-coordinate Sn, represents a major incremental step toward being able to prepare atomically precise nanoparticles of gray tin.

(Multi-)Metallic Cluster Growth

This review article provides a survey of contemporary investigations on main group metal cluster formation, addressing homo- and heterometallic clusters (including small numbers of transition metal atoms), with or without an external ligand shell, thereby excluding clusters with non-metal atoms as bridging ligands. Most of the studies reflected herein represent insights into the formation of intermediates from the starting material, or the final cluster formation from established intermediates. In rare cases, the entire process was suggested as a result of comprehensive, multi-method elucidations. The article is to be understood as a state-of-the-art report, as the subject matter is currently a rising field of research, which is still in its infancy, despite some early activities that date back to the 1980s. At the same time, the article intends to point toward both the importance and the feasibility of according studies, in order to encourage researchers to gain even more knowledge in this field. Only deep understanding of cluster formation will allow for design, and ultimately control, of their syntheses, with the long-term goal of their optimization and purposeful application in catalysis or novel material synthesis.

A Monoanionic Arsenide Source: Decarbonylation of the 2-Arsaethynolate Anion upon Reaction with Bulky Stannylenes

We report fundamental studies on the reactivity of the 2-arsaethynolate anion (AsCO- ), a species that has only recently become synthetically accessible. The reaction of AsCO- with the bulky stannylene Ter2 Sn (Ter=2,6-bis[2,4,6-trimethylphenyl]phenyl) is described, which leads to the unexpected formation of a [Ter3 Sn2 As2 ]- cluster compound. On the reaction pathway to this cluster, several intermediates were identified and characterized. After the initial association of AsCO- to Ter2 Sn, decarbonylation occurs to give an anion featuring monocoordinate arsenic, [Ter2 SnAs]- . Both species are not stable under ambient conditions, and [Ter2 SnAs]- rearranges to form [TerSnAsTer]- , an unprecedented anionic mixed Group 14/15 alkene analogue.

Metalloid Sn clusters: properties and the novel synthesis via a disproportionation reaction of a monohalide

Metalloid cluster compounds of tin of the general formulae SnnRm with n>m (R=organic ligand), where beside ligand-bound tin atoms also “naked” tin atoms, that only bind to other tin atoms, are present, represent a novel class of cluster compounds in tin chemistry. As the “naked” tin atoms inside these clusters exhibit an oxidation state of 0, the average oxidation state of the tin atoms within such metalloid tin clusters is in between 0 and 1. Thus, these cluster compounds may be seen as intermediates on the way to the elemental state. Therefore, interesting properties are expected for these compounds, which might complement results from nanotechnology. During the last years, different syntheses of such novel cluster compounds have been introduced, leading to several metalloid tin cluster compounds, which exhibit new and partly unusual structure and bonding properties. In this review, recent results in this novel field of group 14 chemistry are discussed, whereby special attention is focused on the novel synthetic route applying a disproportionation reaction of metastable Sn(I) halides.

Metalloid group 14 cluster compounds: an introduction and perspectives to this novel group of cluster compounds

Metalloid cluster compounds of group 14 of the general formulae E(n)R(m) with n > m (E = Si, Ge, Sn and Pb, tetrel elements; R = ligand), where "naked" tetrel atoms are present as well as ligand-bound tetrel atoms, represent a novel class of cluster compounds in group 14 chemistry. Since the "naked" tetrel atoms in these clusters exhibit an oxidation state of 0, the average oxidation state of the tetrel atoms in such metalloid group 14 cluster compounds is between 0 and 1. Thus, these cluster compounds may be seen as intermediates on the way to the elemental state. Therefore, interesting properties maybe expected for these compounds which might complement results from nanotechnology. During the last years many different syntheses of such novel cluster compounds have been introduced, leading to several metalloid group 14 cluster compounds which exhibit new and unusual structure and bonding properties. In this tutorial review an account is given of the first steps in this novel field of group 14 chemistry. Special attention is focused on structural features and bonding properties.