The reaction of tin(IV) iodide with phosphines: formation of new halotin anions.

The reaction of SnI(4) with each of a primary, secondary and tertiary phosphine has been investigated and in none of the cases are simple adducts formed. With Cy(3)P, [Cy(3)PI](+) salts of both [SnI(3)](-) (1) and [SnI(5)](-) (2) are isolated arising from reactions involving both reduction at tin and halogen transfer. With the secondary and primary amines Ph(2)PH and CyPH(2), respectively, additional HI elimination reactions occur and the salts [Ph(2)PH(2)](+)(6)[Sn(3)I(12)](6-) (3), [Ph(2)PH(2)](+)(2)[SnI(6)](2-) (4) and [CyPH(3)](+)(2)[SnI(4)](2-) (5) have been isolated. Compounds 1-5 have been characterised crystallographically.