Structural and spectroscopic study of a five-coordinate rhodium(I) complex (η-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(η-2,6-diallylpyridine,N)rhodium (1+) with two different and unusual di-μ-chloro-bis[dichlorodimethylstannate](2-) anions: crystal structures of [Rh(C8H12)(C11H13N)]2[{SnCl3(CH3)2}2].2CH2Cl2 and [Rh(C8H12)(C11H13N)]2[{SnCl3(CH3)2}2]

The prepn. and crystal structures of a five-coordinate rhodium(I) complex with 2,6-diallylpyridine and cyclooctadiene (COD) ligands with two different [{SnCl3Me2}2]2- anions are described, including IR and 1H NMR data. In both structures the cationic Rh has a trigonal-bipyramidal environment with the N-pyridine and one double bond of the COD ligand in axial positions and the two allylic double bonds together with the other double COD bond in equatorial positions. Much more interesting are the structures of the anionic parts, which show a different unsym. dimerization through two chlorine bridges. The tin coordination polyhedra, which assume a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry in the monomeric units, achieve an octahedral shape. There is a simple correlation between the Me-Sn-Me angle value and the longest Sn-Cl bond distance.