Synthesis and characterisation of dialkyltin 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid adducts

The novel dialkyltin 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid adducts (R2Sn)(O,O′-dpmaa) [1a, R = Me; 1b, R = Bu; dpmaa = bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid] were synthesised from dpmaa and R2SnCl2 or Bu2SnO and fully characterised including X-ray crystallography. The latter revealed for both complexes the existence of cyclic trimers in the solid state.