Tetraethyltin or tetraethyl tin is a chemical compound with the formula , that is, a tin atom attached to four ethyl groups. It is an important example of an organotin compound, often abbreviated as TET.
Tetraethyltin is a colourless flammable liquid, soluble in diethyl ether and insoluble in water, that freezes at âÂÂ112 ðC and boils at 181 ðC. It is used in the electronics industry.
Tetraethyltin can be obtained by reacting ethylmagnesium bromide with tin(IV) chloride:
The same reaction can be used to obtain tetra-n-propyltin and tetra-n-butyltin.
Tetraethyltin is converted in the body to the more toxic triethylstannylium ions.