Abstract
The rates of the reactions of tetraalkyltins (R4Sn) with bromine in dimethylformamide and acetic acid solutions and with iodine in acetic acid are found to depend on steric effects (kMe> kEt > knPr), caused by the R3Sn leaving group. Trialkyltin bromides (R3SnBr) are cleaved by bromine in acetic acid in a reactivity sequence (kMe < kEt > knPr) which is best explained by an increasing importance of inductive effects.