Two series of S-alkyl trithiocarbonate derivatives of imethylgermane, Me2Ge[S2CSR]2, and halodiphenylgermane, Ph2GeX[S2CSR], where R = Me, i-Pr, n-Pr, n-Bu and X = Cl, Br, and three series of O-alkyl monothiocarbonate derivatives of triphenylgermane, Ph3Ge[SCO2R], diphenylgermane, Ph2Ge[SCO2R], and trimethylgermane, me3Ge[SCO2R], where R = Me, i-Pr, and n-Pr, have been prepared in 73-92% yields by the reaction of the potassium or sodium salt of the appropriate tri- or monothiocarbonic acid with dichlorodimethyl-, chlorotriphenyl-, dichlorodiphenyl-, and chlorotrimethylgermane. The compounds were principally characterized by infrared, Raman, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including some variable temperature studies, as well as by mass spectrometry. Me2Ge[S2CSEt]2, 1: P21/m (No. 11) with cell parameters a = 6.647(4) Å, b = 7.423(2) Å, c = 16.290(4) Å, β = 91.07(3)°, V = 803.6(4) Å3, Z = 2, R = 0.0484,Rw = 0.0485. Ph3Ge[SCO2Me],13: P1bar (No. 2) with cell parameters a = 9.970(4) Å, b = 10.660(3) Å, c = 9.853(2) Å, α = 101.78(2)°, β = 109.98(2)°, γ = 89.76(3)°, V = 961.0(5) Å3, Z = 2, R = 0.0534, Rw = 0.0451. Ph3Ge[SCO2(i-Pr)], 14: P 1bar (No. 2) with cell parameters a = 14.386(7) Å, b = 18.598(6) Å, c = 9.223(3) Å, α = 102.85(3)°, β = 94.58(3)°, γ = 108.13(3)°, V = 2256(1) Å3, Z = 2, R = 0.0545, Rw = 0.0552. Ph2Ge[SCO2Me]2, 16: Cc, (No. 9) with cell parameters a = 11.790(4) Å, b = 13.696(5) Å, c = 23.232(6) Å, β = 92.26(3)°, V = 3748(2) Å3, Z = 8, R = 0.0563, Rw = 0.0512. The immediate environment about Ge is that of tetrahedral but the orientations of the thiocarbonate groups display interesting features.Key words: structure, germanium, phenyl, methyl, thiocarbonates.
O-alkyl monothiocarbonate (monoxanthate) derivatives of tin were obtained by the reaction of a sodium salt of the monothiocarbonic acid with an organotin chloride to give Ph3Sn[SCO2R], Ph2Sn[SCO2R]2, and Me3Sn[SCO2R], where R = Me and i-Pr. The compounds have been characterized by infrared, Raman, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, as well as mass spectrometry, and in two cases by X-ray crystallography. Ph3Sn[SCO2Me] (1) and Ph3Sn[SCO2(i-Pr)] (2), crystallize in the triclinic space group P[Formula: see text] (no. 2) with cell parameters a = 10.218(4), b = 10.568(6), c = 9.366(7) Å, α = 106.73(5), β = 96.99(5), γ = 85.55(4)°, V = 960(1) Å3, and Z = 2 for 1; and a = 14.793(2), b = 17.856(3), c = 9.813(3) Å, α = 103.86(5), β = 98.36(5), γ = 106.85(4)°, V = 2343(1) Å3, and Z = 2 for 2. The latter has two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The immediate environment about tin in both 1 and 2 is that of the expected distorted tetrahedron. However, the orientation of the monothiocarbonate group is such that there is an Sn-O intramolecular interaction of 3.040(8) for 1 and 3.05(2) Å on average for 2. Thus, the considerable distortion is consistent with a tendency to form a five-coordinate, trigonal bipyramidal species with one of the O-Sn-C angles approaching 180o (153.4(4) for 1 and an average of 157.1(6) for 2). Estimations of the Pauling partial bond orders suggest this weak Sn-O interaction is slightly stronger than the corresponding Ge-O interaction in the analogous germanium derivative, Ph3Ge[SCO2Me].Key words: structure, tin, methyl, phenyl, isopropyl, monothiocarbonates.