Reactions
When mixed with a small amount of water a semi-solid crystalline mass of the pentahydrate, SnCl4.5H2O is formed. This was formerly known as butter of tin. This compound has been shown to be best described as .3H2O, consisting of cis- units linked in chains with three hydrate water molecules.
With hydrochloric acid the complex 2− is formed making the so-called hexachlorostannic acid.
Anhydrous tin(IV) chloride is a strong Lewis acid and complexes with e.g. ammonia, phosphine and phosphorus pentachloride are known. SnCl4 is used in Friedel-Crafts reactions as a catalyst for homogeneous alkylation and cyclisation.
With Grignard reagents tetraalkyltin compounds can be prepared:
- SnCl4 + RMgCl → SnR4 + MgCl2
Read more about this topic: Tin(IV) Chloride
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