The reaction of tin(IV) iodide with phosphines: formation of new halotin anions.

The reaction of SnI(4) with each of a primary, secondary and tertiary phosphine has been investigated and in none of the cases are simple adducts formed. With Cy(3)P, [Cy(3)PI](+) salts of both [SnI(3)](-) (1) and [SnI(5)](-) (2) are isolated arising from reactions involving both reduction at tin and halogen transfer. With the secondary and primary amines Ph(2)PH and CyPH(2), respectively, additional HI elimination reactions occur and the salts [Ph(2)PH(2)](+)(6)[Sn(3)I(12)](6-) (3), [Ph(2)PH(2)](+)(2)[SnI(6)](2-) (4) and [CyPH(3)](+)(2)[SnI(4)](2-) (5) have been isolated.

Group VI metal aminoborylene complex-catalyzed demercuration reactions of bis(alkynyl)mercurials.

The first catalytic application of the Group VI metal borylene complexes [(CO)(5)M[double bond]BN(SiMe(3))(2)] involves the demercuration reaction of bis(alkynyl)mercurials, [Hg(C[triple bond]CR)(2)], with formation of a series of buta-1,3-diynes.

The reaction of GeCl4 with primary and secondary phosphines.

Reaction of GeCl4 and CyPH2 leads to a range of products from which crystals of [CyPH3]+[GeCl3]- have been obtained. The major intermediate in this reaction, Cy(H)PGeCl3, can be obtained as the dominant product only when an excess of GeCl4 is used in the preparation. Similarly, crystals of [Ph2PH2]+[GeCl3]- have been obtained from reaction of Ph2PH and GeCl4(1 : 1).