Formation of cyclo- and polystannanes by dehydrogenative stannane coupling catalyzed by platinum(II) complexes

Reaction of (PhMe₂P)₂PtMe₂ or [(κ²-P,N)-Ph₂PC₂H₄NMe₂]PtMe₂ with an excess of H₂SnBu₂ or H₂SnPh₂ resulted in the catalytic formation of cyclo-, oligo- and/or polystannanes. In the reaction of (PhMe₂P)₂PtMe₂ with H₂SnBu₂, linear oligomeric species H(SnBu₂)_nH were observed in the initial stage of the reaction, which eventually converted into cyclostannanes. Only polystannanes were observed in the reaction of [(κ²-P,N)-Ph₂PC₂H₄NMe₂]PtMe₂ with H₂SnBu₂. The reactions of H₂SnPh₂ were similar, but more difficult to analyze due to redistribution reactions and the formation of insoluble products. The mechanism of the reactions is clearly different to that previously observed for HSnR₃ because metal complexes indicative of oxidative addition/reductive elimination reactions were only observed as minor products.