Novel Dimeric Organotin Cations: Highly Effective Alcohol Acetylation Catalysts

Novel organotin cations, [R 2 SnOH(H 2 O)] 2 2+ (OTf) - 2 (R = n-Bu and t-Bu), were prepared from R 2 SnO and CF 3 SO 3 H (TfOH). The synthetic utility of these compounds due to the increased Lewis acidity was exemplified by their high catalytic activity in the acetylation of alcohols.