The reactivity of tributyltin oxygen compounds with CCl4: Implications for its use as an extraction/reaction solvent

A variety of tributyltin oxygen compounds,(nC₄H₉)₃SnOX where X = Sn(nC₄H₉)₃, C₂H₅, nC₄H₉, C₈H₁₇, CH₂C₆H₅, COCH₃, have been studied in refluxing CCI₄. A reaction was observed to occur where X = C₂H₅, C₄H₉, C₈H₁₇, CH₂C₆H₅, leading to the formation of (nC₄H₉)₃SnCl, CHCl₃ and an aldehyde. Possible reaction pathways are suggested. These reactions have implications for the use of CCl₄ as an extraction/reaction solvent.