Tin and organotin coordination polymers and covalently bonded supramolecular materials – The last 15 years of research

Abstract The objective of this paper is to summarise the main achievements concerning the tin and organotin supramolecular chemistry in the last 15 years. Since the last review several compounds have been documented in the literature together with new synthetic approaches and potential applications. It is divided in two parts, according to the forces sustaining the repeating units along with the supramolecular structures. The first topic comprises details about R2Sn and R3Sn-based polymers supported by N⋯H, O-H⋯O, C-H⋯O, C-H⋯π, among other weak intermolecular interactions. The second part is dedicated to cover data regarding R2Sn, R3Sn and Sn(II)-containing structures and miscellaneous Sn(II) polymers constructed by the multidimensional Sn-O, Sn-N, or other covalent bonds. Among the ligands stand carboxylates, sulfonates, phosphonates, sulphur and phosphorous mixed electron donors and other Lewis bases containing sulphur atoms or heterocyclic groups. The dimensionality of R2Sn or R3Sn-containing polymers is influenced by the geometry at the Sn(IV), the bulkiness of the organic group attached to it, as well as by the nature of the ligands. The architecture of Sn(II) supramolecular structures depends also on the existence of stereochemically active electron lone pairs in Sn(II) species. The antitumoral or biocide studies employing organotin polymers revealed excellent activities towards different isolates. Other potential applications of organotin and Sn(II) polymers were also investigated, for example photo-luminescence or semiconducting properties, in electrochemistry, or as single-source precursors for the production of tin materials or nanowires, among others.