Direct detection of dimethylstannylene and tetramethyldistannene in solution and the gas phase by laser flash photolysis of 1,1-dimethylstannacyclopent-3-enes

Dimethylstannylene (SnMe2) and its subsequent decay to tetramethyldistannene are formed from the 193-nmlaser flash photolysis of 1,1-dimethylstannacyclopent-3-ene in the gas phase and 1,1,3,4-tetramethylstannacyclopent-3-ene in solution. Steady-state photolysis leads to the formation of the corresponding dienes, and in solution, SnMe2 is trapped in reaction with M trimethylstannane (Me3SnH)to afford a product of Sn-H insertion.