Synthesis, structure, and properties of {(Me3Si)2CH}2SnH(OH)

The Lappert stannylene SnR2, R = CH(SiMe3)(2), adds water and methanol to yield the low-melting-point, crystalline hydroxy-and methoxydiorganostannanes R2SnH(OH) (1) and R2SnH(OMe) (2). The corresponding deuterated derivatives R2SnD(OD) (1-d(2)) and R2SnD(OCD3) (2-d(4)) have also been prepared. Compounds 1 and 2 react with D2O with retention of the Sn-H bond to give R2SnH(OD) (1-d(SnOD)). The reaction is thought to proceed by an S(N)2 type mechanism via a [R2SnH(OR')(2)](-) (R' = H, D, or Me) intermediate or transition state. Consistent with this, 2-d(4) is hydrolyzed to R2SnD(OH) (1-d(SnD)). A single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of 1 reveals that individual molecules form C-i-symmetrical dimers in the solid with short O-H ... O* hydrogen bridges (O ... O* = 2.854(2) Angstrom). Reaction of 1 with ((Pr2PC2H4PPr2)-Pr-i-Pr-i)Pd(C2H4) results in oxidative addition of the Sn-H bond to Pd-0 to give the known ((Pr2PC2H4PPr2)-Pr-i-Pr-i)Pd(H)-SnR2(OH) (3).