Abstract
The synthesis, structure, and properties of a stable, linear 2-stannapropadiene are reported. The identical C[double bond, length as m-dash]Sn bonds in this 2-stannapropadiene are the shortest hitherto reported C-Sn bonds. This 2-stannapropadiene features a (119)Sn NMR signal at 507 ppm for the central tin atom, indicative of an unsaturated Sn(4+) oxidation state. Due to the inert-pair effect, the tin atom displays a pronounced preference for the +2 oxidation state over the +4 oxidation state. Nevertheless, by employing silyl substituents, it is possible to disrupt the inert-pair effect, leading to the formation of an isolable 2-stannapropadiene with a linear structure centered on a Sn(4+) atom. Treatment of this 2-stannapropadiene with SnBr(2)·dioxane resulted in the formation of a novel four-membered cyclic 1,1-dibromo-1,3-distannetane, which was subsequently reduced to afford the corresponding stable four-membered cyclic bis(stannylene).