Tin(IV) bromide

Tin(IV) bromide is the chemical compound SnBr₄. It is a colourless low melting solid.

Structure

SnBr₄ crystallises in a monoclinic crystal system with molecular SnBr₄ units that have distorted tetrahedral geometry. The mean Sn-Br bond length is 242.3 pm.

Preparation

SnBr₄ can be prepared by reaction of the elements at standard temperature and pressure (STP):

Reactions

In aqueous solution SnBr₄ dissolves to give a series of octahedral (six-ligated) bromo-aquo complexes. These include and cis- and trans-.

SnBr₄ forms 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with ligands. With trimethylphosphine both .

Tin(IV) bromide undergoes redistribution with tin(IV) chloride as assessed by ¹¹⁹Sn NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Equilibrium is achieved in seconds at room temperature. By contrast, halide exchange for related germanium and especially silicon halides is slower.

References