Tri-n-butyltin carboxylate derivatives of para-substituted phenyl-ethanoic acids: synthesis, characterization and X-ray structure determination

The tributyltin esters of 4-(ethyl)-phenyl-ethanoic acid and 4-(isopropyl)-phenyl-ethanoic acid have been prepared as model compounds of the repeating unit of the related stannylated polystyrenic derivatives. Both the products were fully characterized by proton and carbon NMR two-dimensional techniques. FT-IR spectra show in the solid state carboxylated moieties bridging R3Sn groups with the metal atom expanding its coordination number, this structure being destroyed in solution. The supramolecular arrangement of the products in the solid state has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, which confirms the pentacoordination at tin in both the products, and indicates a different spatial arrangement of the alkylated aryl groups, as evidenced also by the slightly different thermal properties.