Cooperative effects in the complexation of anions and Lewis bases by a heteronuclear bifunctional Lewis acid.

As shown by the complexation of electron-rich substrates to the heteronuclear bifunctional Lewis acid bis(mu-1,8-naphthalenediyl)(mu-chloride)methyltin-chlorogallium (1), the primary Lewis acidic site of this molecule is the triorganotin chloride moiety whose electron deficiency is enhanced through partial abstraction of its chloride ligand by the neighbouring gallium centre.