Crystal structure of bis{μ-(E)-2-[(2-oxidophenylimino)methyl]quinolin-8-olato-κ4O,N,N′,O′}bis[dibutyltin(IV)]

Condensation of 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carbaldehyde with 2-aminophenol gave the (E)-2-[(2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl]quinolin-8-ol derivative that reacted with di-n-butyltin oxide with release of H2O to yield the chelate title complex, [Sn2(C4H9)4(C16H10N2O2)2]. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, with two independent centrosymmetric dimers in the unit cell. Each features a typical pincer-type structure where the dianionic ligand is tetradentate, coordinating to the central tin atom through both phenolate oxygen atoms, as well as through the quinoline and imine N atoms. Each metal atom adopts a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal SnC2N2O3 coordination arising from the N,N′,O,O′-tetradentate deprotonated Schiff base, one bridging phenolate O atom of the neighbouring ligand and two butyl groups in the axial sites