Synthesis and structural characterization of a novel tin(II) phosphonate, Sn2(O3PCH3)(C2O4)

The title compound, Sn2(O3PCH3)(C2O4), was synthesized hydrothermally using methylphosphonic acid and tin oxalate in the presence of butylamine. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 /m (no. 14) with the lattice parameters a=4.723(1), b=15.196(1), c=6.147(1) Å, beta;=102.1(1)°, V=431.3(1) Å3 , Z=4. The final R values are R=2.99, Rw=6.1 and S=1.04. The structure comprises a network of vertex-linked truncated square-pyramidal SnO4 units and tetrahedral O3PC units which gives rise to three-membered rings, via a three-coordinate oxygen, which are linked together forming one-dimensional chains. These chains are connected together via the oxalate group forming the structure.