Synthesis of organotin(IV) -mercury(II) heterobimetallic complexes using a hybrid ligand, 1, 2-bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane monoxide

The reaction of 1, 2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane monoxide, a hybrid ligand containing both soft (P) and hard (O) Lewis base centers in the same molecule, with organotin(IV) chloride and mercury(II) chloride has been carried out using dichloromethane as solvent. The products [HgCl2.(dppeO).R2SnCl2]n [R = Me (1), Ph (2) and CH2Ph (3)] have been obtained in excellent yields and are characterized using IR, 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopic methods. Based on the spectral data it is proposed that the structure may contain -Hg-P-O-Sn-O-PHg- polymeric array.