UNEXPECTED FORMATION AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF 2,2,6,6-TETRA-t-BUTYL-4,8-DIMETHYL-1,5,9-TRIOXA-4,8-DISILA-2,6-DISTANNABICYCLO[3.3.1]NONANE

The title compound 2 has been prepared by treatment of (i-PrO)(2)MeSiCH(2)(t-Bu)(2)SnCl 1 with potassium fluoride/water. Multinuclear NMR and X-ray studies reveal 2 adopts bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane structure. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with unit cell dimensions a = 12.880(3), b = 16.949(4),c = 13.472(4) Angstrom, beta 93.04(2)degrees, Z = 4. The structure was refined to a final R value of 0.065.