Directed derivatization of organotin sulfide compounds: synthesis and self-assembly of an SnS backpack-like cage and a CuSnS ternary cluster

The organic functionalized, ternary CuSnS cluster [R(2)(N){Sn(mu-S)(2)-Cu(PPh(2)Me)}(4)] (3; R(N) = (CMe(2)CH(2)CMeNNH)(2)CO) was obtained by a two-step reaction, first derivatization of carbonyl functionalized double-decker-like cage [(R(1)Sn)(4)(mu-S)(6)] (R(1) = CMe(2)CH(2)COMe) using carbohydrazide, and ensuing reaction of the resulting hydrazone functionalized thiostannate [(R(N)Sn(2))(2)(mu-S)(6)] (1) with Na(2)S center dot 9H(2)O and [CuCl(PPh(2)Me)(3)]; as confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry, the second step passes a thiostannate intermediate species, Na(2)[R(N)(SnS)(2)(mu-S)(2)] (2).