Synthesis of triphenyltin(IV) hydrosulfide

Compounds of the type R3SnSH are believed to be unstable (unless sterically protected by very bulky R groups) because of their facile condensation into the corresponding sulfide, (R3Sn)2S. One such compound, Ph3SnSH has been synthesized by an one pot reaction of triphenyltin hydroxide with thiophosgene followed by the hydrolysis of the intermediate triphenyltin chlorothioformate. The product, triphenyltin hydrosulfide has been characterized by IR, 1H, 13C and 119Sn NMR spectral techniques. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that the molecule is a discrete monomer containing tin atom at the centre of a distorted tetrahedron. Plausible reaction mechanism for the formation of the molecule has also been reported.