Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric study of the hydrolysis-polycondensation process of Sn(OBu(t))(4).

The oligomerization of Sn(OBu(t))(4) in the sol-gel process has been studied by several different analytical approaches. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry was highly effective in describing the first species produced by the hydrolysis-polycondensation reactions. Mössbauer spectroscopy has elucidated the fast behavior of the hydrolytic oligomerization process, while calorimetric data have demonstrated the high enthalpy of the reaction in the presence of different solvents.