Crystalline binuclear cis- and trans-chlorotin(II) amides [Sn(µ-Cl)(NR2)]2, the cis-1a ⇌trans-1b isomerisation for [NR2= NCMe2(CH2)3CMe2], and the X-ray structures of 1a and of trans-[Sn(µ-Cl){N(SiMe3)2}]2

Abstract
Crystalline binuclear chlorotin(II) amides [Sn(µ-Cl)(NR2)]2 have been X-ray characterised as cis-[NR2= [graphic omitted]Me2, 1a] and trans-(R = SiMe3, 2b) conformers [Cl–Sn–Cl′= 78.53(4)1a or 81.33(4)°2b, Sn–Cl–Sn′ 100.91(4)1a or 98.67(4)°2b, 2.74 1a or 2.67 Å2b]; a solution of 1 in toluene undergoes rapid cistrans exchange at ambient temperature, but distinct cis-1a and trans-1b forms coexist below 192 K (119Sn NMR spectroscopy and line-shape analysis) and evidence is presented for an intramolecular mechanism for this exchange.