Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 6, 2026

Dimethyltin dichloride

Dimethyltin dichloride is an organotin compound with the formula (CH3)2SnCl2. It is a white crystalline solid.

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Aug 6, 2026
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Dimethyltin dichloride
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Names
IUPAC name
Dichloro(dimethyl)stannane1
Other names
  • Dichlorodimethylstannane1
  • Dichlorodimethyltin1
  • Dimethyltin dichloride1
  • DMTC2
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.010.945
EC Number
  • 212-039-2
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2CH3.2ClH.Sn/h2*1H3;2*1H;/q;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: PKKGKUDPKRTKLJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • C[Sn](C)(Cl)Cl
Properties
(CH3)2SnCl2
Molar mass 219.68 g·mol−1
Appearance White crystalline solid13
Density 1.397 g/cm33
Melting point 101–106 °C (214–223 °F; 374–379 K)4
Boiling point 189 °C (372 °F; 462 K)4 Decomposition at 500 °C (932 °F)2
823 g/l at 20 °C4
Structure
Tetrahedral at Sn
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 Highly toxic
GHS labelling:
GHS05: CorrosiveGHS06: ToxicGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
H301, H311, H314, H330, H361d, H372
P203, P260, P262, P264, P270, P271, P280, P284, P301+P316, P301+P330+P331, P302+P352, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P318, P319, P320, P321, P330, P361+P364, P363, P403+P233, P405, P501
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
  • 204.5 mg/kg (oral, rat)
  • 404 mg/kg (dermal, rabbit)
4
Related compounds
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Dimethyltin dichloride is an organotin compound with the formula (CH3)2SnCl2. It is a white crystalline solid.

Synthesis

Dimethyltin dichloride can be synthesized by reaction of tin and methyl chloride in the presence of trialkylamine NR3 as a catalyst.5

Sn + 2 CH3Cl → (CH3)2SnCl2

Dimethyltin dichloride can also be prepared in high yield from molten tin and methyl chloride in a sodium tetrachloroaluminate salt melt at 280 °C (536 °F). The reaction is initiated by the addition of a catalytic amount of tin dichloride. In the first step, methyl chloride reacts with tin dichloride to form methyltin trichloride CH3SnCl3, which is in the second step reduced to methyltin(II) chloride CH3SnCl with tin, releasing tin dichloride. In the third step, this reacts with another molecule of methyl chloride to form dimethyltin dichloride.6

1. SnCl2 + CH3Cl → CH3SnCl3
2. CH3SnCl3 + Sn → CH3SnCl + SnCl2
3. CH3SnCl + CH3Cl → (CH3)2SnCl2

The gross equation is:

Sn + 2 CH3Cl → (CH3)2SnCl2

Dimethyltin dichloride can also be prepared by the Kocheshkov reaction between tetramethyltin and tin(IV) chloride.7

SnCl4 + Sn(CH3)4 → 2 (CH3)2SnCl2

Properties

Dimethyltin dichloride is a flammable but difficult to ignite, moisture-sensitive, white crystalline solid that is readily soluble in water.8 It has a dipole moment of 4.14 Debye in benzene.9 This compound forms orthorhombic crystals.10

Reactions

Dimethyltin dichloride dissociates in water, creating (CH3)2Sn(H2O)x2+ cations and Cl− anions.11

(CH3)2SnCl2 + x H2O ⇌ (CH3)2Sn(H2O)x2+ + 2 Cl−
(CH3)2Sn(H2O)x2+ + H2O ⇌ (CH3)2Sn(OH)(H2O)x−1+ + H3O+

It forms adducts with Lewis bases such as pyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline.12

Dimethyltin dichloride reacts with hydrogen fluoride to give a mixed halide dimethyltin chloride fluoride (CH3)2SnClF. It reacts with trimethyliodosilane (CH3)3SiI to give dimethyltin diiodide (CH3)2SnI2.13

Structure

Dimethyltin dichloride is tetrahedral at Sn. The distances and angles between atoms are as follows:14

d(Sn-C) = 212.0(7) pm
d(Sn-Cl) = 238.9(2) pm
∠(Cl-Sn-Cl) = 98.60(9)°
∠(C-Sn-C) = 142.2(4)°

The length of the intermolecular tin-chlorine distance was determined to be 343.3 pm. This value shows that dimethyltin dichloride has a strong intermolecular force due to small steric hindrance of the tin atom by the two methyl groups.14

Uses

Dimethyltin dichloride is used as a heat stabilizer in PVC.15 It is also used for the production of insulating glass units with selective reflection of thermal radiation.16

Safety

Dimethyltin dichloride, like many other organotin compounds, is toxic and must be handled with care. Its toxic effects primarily target the kidneys and the central nervous system. At higher doses targets also the liver, adrenal glands, spleen, thymus, bladder, testes and epididymis.17 It can cause severe skin burns and serious eye damage.1

References

References

  1. PubChem. "Dimethyltin dichloride". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  2. https://jp4.journaldephysique.org/en/articles/jp4/abs/1999/08/jp4199909PR820/jp4199909PR820.html
  3. https://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB1729317.htm
  4. Sigma-Aldrich. "Dimethyltin dichloride". www.sigmaaldrich.com. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  5. https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/023252888/publication/US3857868A?q=pn%3DUS3857868
  6. v. Rumohr, A.; Sundermeyer, W.; Towae, W. (1983). "Chemische Reaktionen in Salzschmelzen. XIX. Zur Direktsynthese des Dimethylzinndichlorids, (CH3)2SNCL2". Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie. 499 (4): 75–80. doi:10.1002/zaac.19834990409.
  7. https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C753731&Mask=1F
  8. https://gestis.dguv.de/data?name=490282
  9. Lorberth, Jörg; Nöth, Heinrich (1965). "Dipolmomente einiger Organozinnchloride". Chemische Berichte. 98 (3): 969–976. doi:10.1002/cber.19650980342.
  10. Davies, Alwyn G.; Milledge, H. Judith; Puxley, David C.; Smith, Peter J. (1970). "Crystal structure and Mössbauer spectrum of dimethyltin dichloride". J. Chem. Soc. A. 0: 2862–2866. doi:10.1039/J19700002862. ISSN 0022-4944.
  11. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1963/jr/jr9630001519
  12. Asadi, Mozaffar; Aein Jamshid, Khosrow; Hossein Kyanfar, Ali (2007). "Thermodynamic Studies of the Interaction of Nickel(II) Schiff Base Complexes with Diorganotin (IV) Dichlorides in Non-Aqueous Solvents". Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic, Metal-Organic, and Nano-Metal Chemistry. 37 (2): 77–83. doi:10.1080/15533170601187391.
  13. Armitage, D. A.; Tarassoli, A. (1975). "Synthesis of organotin mixed dihalides". Inorganic Chemistry. 14 (5): 1210–1211. doi:10.1021/ic50147a050.
  14. Reuter, H.; Pawlak, R. (2001). "Zinnhalogenverbindungen. III. Neuere Daten zur Kristall- und Molekülstruktur von Dimethylzinndichlorid, Me 2 SNCL 2". Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials. 216: 56–59. doi:10.1524/zkri.216.1.56.18994.
  15. https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/c7045466-959e-4c40-9e7f-e1a8bac3fc93
  16. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/system/files/medien/publikation/long/2245.pdf
  17. https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl:6459930