Synthesis, characterization and catalytic properties of diorganotin derivatives. Crystal and molecular structure of the first complex of 2-(2-methyl-3-nitroanilino)benzoic acid of 1,2:3,4-di-μ2-2-(2-methyl-3-nitroanilino)benzoato-O,O-1,3-bis-2-(2-methyl-3

The complexes [Me2(MNAB)SnOSn(MNAB)Me2]2 (2) and [Me2Sn(MNAB)2] (3), where HMNAB is 2-(2-methyl-3-nitroanilino)benzoic acid, (1), have been prepared and structurally characterized by means of vibrational, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure of [Me2(MNAB)SnOSn(MNAB)Me2]2 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Three distannoxane rings are present to the dimeric tetraorganodistannoxane of planar ladder arrangement. The structure is centro-symmetric and features a central rhombus Sn2O2 unit with two additional tin atoms linked at the O atoms. Six-coordinated tin centers are present in the dimmer distannoxane. This structure is self-assembled in one dimensional infinite chain via intermolecular hydrogen bonds, π → π and C–H → π stacking interactions. The polar imino hydrogen atom participates in intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The catalytic activity of the prepared complexes in transesterification reactions has been studied. The diorganotin complexes efficiently catalyze the transesterification reaction of 2-phenylethanol without addition of free ligand or any promoting additive.