Disproportionation/Dehydrocoupling of Endocrine Disruptor, Tributyltin Hydride to Polystannanes Using Cp^′₂TiCl₂/N-Selectride (Cp' = Cp' = C₅H₅, Cp; Me-C₅H₄, Me-Cp; Me₅C₅, Cp^*) Catalyst

Abstract

Tributyltin hydride ($n-Bu_3SnH$), an endocrine disruptor, was slowly polymerized by the group 4 ${Cp^{\prime}}_2TiCl_2/N$-selectride (Cp' = $C_5H_5$, Cp; $Me-C_5H_4$, Me-Cp; $Me_5C_5$, $Cp^*$) catalyst combination to give two phases of products: one is an insoluble cross-linked solid, polystannane in 3-25% yield as minor product via disproportionation/dehydrocoupling combination process, and the other is an oil, hexabutyldistannane in 65-90% yield as major product via simple dehydrocoupling process. Disproportionation/dehydrocoupling process first produced a low-molecular-weight oligostannane possessing partial backbone Sn-H bonds which then underwent an extensive cross-linking reaction of backbone Sn-H bonds, resulting in the formation of an insoluble polystannane. The disproportionation/dehydrocoupling of a tertiary hydrostannane mediated by early transition metallocene/inorganic hydride is quite unusual and applicable.