Octahedral Bis(phenoxy-imine)tin(IV) Alkyl Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity toward Ionizing Species and Ethylene

The synthesis of new organotin compounds of the general formula L2SnR2 (L = N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene)-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoroaniline; R = CH3 (1), n-C4H9 (3)) and L‘2SnR2 (L‘ =
N-(3-tert-butylsalicylidene)aniline; R = CH3 (2), n-C4H9 (4)) is described herein. The
compounds were characterized by 1H, 13C, and 119Sn NMR in solution; in some cases a
fluxional behavior was observed by variable-temperature experiments. Characterization by
single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis has been obtained for compounds 1, 2, and 4. The
reactivity of the synthesized compounds toward ionizing agents was studied by an NMR-tube reaction. Compounds 2 and 4 underwent an alkyl abstraction reaction with the
carbenium salt [C(C6H5)3]+[B(C6F5)4]-. The obtained cationic species exhibited some activity
in the oligomerization of ethylene under mild conditions, producing short-chain oligomers,
with saturated end groups and methyl branches.