
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Trimethyltin chloride
Introduction
Trimethyltin chloride ((CH3)3SnCl) is a moisture sensitive organotin compound having a strong unpleasant stench that is soluble in organic solvents, but hydrolyzes.
Synthesis
Synthesis
Trimethyltin chloride can be prepared by reaction of tetramethyltin with tin tetrachloride.[1]
- SnCl4 + 3 SnMe4 → 4 Me3SnCl
This is the Kocheshkov redistribution reaction. It is performed under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, typically with no solvent.
A second route to Me3SnCl is by reacting the related tin hydroxide or oxide with a halogenating agent like either HCl or SOCl2.
- Me3SnOH + SOCl2 → Me3SnCl + HSOCl +1/2O2
Uses
Uses
Timethyltin chloride is used with Grignard reagents to generate tin-carbon bonds. [2] An example is:
- CH2CHMgBr + Me3SnCl → Me3SnCHCH2
Another example of a Grignard reagent reacting with Me3SnCl to form a tin-carbon bond is
- LiCH(SiMe3)(GeMe3) + Me3SnCl → Me3SnCH(SiMe3)(GeMe3) + LiCl
Organotin compounds derived from Me3SnCl are used extensively in organic syntheses, especially in radical chain reactions. Me3SnCl is a precursor to compounds used in PVC stabilization. Reduction of trimethyltin chloride gives tin-tin bonds.
- Me3SnM + Me3SnCl → Sn2Me6 + MCl (M = metal)
References
References
- ↑ Template:OrgSynth
- ↑ Davies, A.G. “Tin Organometallics”. Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry III. Elsevier B.V.: 2008. pg 809-883 doi:10.1016/B0-08-045047-4/00054-6
Editor-In-Chief: Template:Chembox new C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
