Synthesis and characterisation of stannanechalcogenones; X-ray structures of [R(N)(R(N))Sn(mu-S)](2) and [(R(N))(2)Sn=E][R(N)=CH(SiMe(3))C9H6N-8; E=Se, Te]

The tin(II) alkyl (RN)(2)Sn 1 [RN = CH(SiMe(3))C9H6N-8] reacts with elemental chalcogens in thf to afford thermally stable dimeric dialkylstannane-thione [R(N)(R(N))Sn(mu-S)](2) 2 and monomeric dialkylstannane-selone and -tellurone [(RN)(2)Sn=E] (E = Se 3, Te 4) in good yields; Sn-119 NMR spectra of 3 and 4 display satellites with coupling constants (1)J(119Sn-77Se) 2966.3 Hz and (1)J(119Sn-125Te) 7808.3 Hz; the tin-chalcogen distances from single-crystal X-ray analysis are 2.47 (av.), 2.398 and 2.618 Angstrom for 2, 3 and 4 respectively.