Organotin(IV) complexes derived from N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate: Synthesis, characterization and thermal studies

Organotin(IV) dithiocarbamate complexes, RSnClL2 and R2SnL2 (R = Me, Bu, Ph, and L = N-ethyl-N-phenyldithiocarbamate), have been synthesized by the reaction of mono- and disubstituted organotin(IV) with ammonium dithiocarbamate. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, and spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C NMR and FTIR). The structures of Me2SnL2 and Bu2SnL2 were further established by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The crystal structure analysis showed that both complexes (Me2SnL2 and Bu2SnL2) exist as monomers. One of the dithiocarbamate ligands formed a chelate, while the other dithiocarbamate bonded to the central tin atom through one of the sulfur atoms and the second sulfur atom existed as a pendant to form distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The thermal stability of all the complexes was studied using simultaneous thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The TG-DSC results showed that Me2SnL2, BuSnClL2, Bu2SnL2, and PhSnClL2 displayed similar decomposition pathway via isothiocyanate intermediate, while MeSnClL2 and Ph2SnL2 showed decomposition pathways different from the rest of the complexes. All the complexes resulted in SnS as the final product of the thermal decomposition process.