Iron distannanes (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2SntBu2SntBu2X, (X = Cl, OMe): Thermal and photochemical transformations to iron stannylstannylenes

A new distannyl complex of the (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2 (Fp) system, FpSntBu2SntBu2Cl (1), is formed by the reaction between Fp−Na+ and CltBu2SnSntBu2Cl in hexane. Reaction of 1 with NaOMe (also in hexane solvent) yields FpSntBu2SntBu2OMe (2). Both 1 and 2 are characterized by 13C, 29Si and 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both complexes are observed to thermally, and photochemically, transform to (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(SntBu2)2X (X = Cl, OMe) involving a bridging Cl or OMe between the stannylene units.