Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new triorganotin(IV) complexes with the bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)acetate ligand: effects on trout erythrocyte components

Triorganotin(IV) derivatives containing the anionic ligand bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)acetate [(S-tim)(2)CHCO2](-) were synthesized from the reaction between R3SnCl acceptors (R = Me and Ph) and the sodium salt of the ligand. Mono-nuclear complexes of the type [(S-tim)(2)CHCO2]SnR3 were obtained, which were fully characterized by elemental analyses and FT-IR in the solid state, and by NMR (H-1, C-13 and Sn-119) spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass in solution. The toxic effects shown by these compounds on trout erythrocyte components showed that the toxicity of the organotin(IV) complexes depends on the nature and on the lipophilicity of the substituents on the metal centre.