Photochemical synthesis and radical generation of the nickel-tin dimer [Ni(SnBut3)(CNBut)2(CO)]2

<p>Ni(COD)2 reacts with But3SnH and CNBut at room temperature to afford the trigonal bipyramidal complex Ni(SnBut3)2(CNBut)3, <strong>3</strong>. Exposing a solution of <strong>3</strong> to CO gas results in ligand exchange generating the pale yellow complex, Ni(SnBut3)2(CNBut)2(CO), <strong>4</strong>. In the presence of light, a Ni-Sn bond in <strong>4</strong> is cleaved converting two equivalents of compound <strong>4</strong> into the deep purple nickel-tin dimer, [Ni(SnBut3)(CNBut)2(CO)]2, <strong>5</strong>. The reaction is believed to proceed through radical mechanisms.</p>