Triphenyltin hydride

Triphenyltin hydride is the organotin compound with the formula (C6H5)3SnH. It is a white distillable oil that is soluble in organic solvents. It is often used as a source of 'H·' to generate radicals or cleave carbon-oxygen bonds. Triphenyltin hydride is the organotin compound with the formula (C6H5)3SnH. It is a white distillable oil that is soluble in organic solvents. It is often used as a source of 'H·' to generate radicals or cleave carbon-oxygen bonds. Ph3SnH, as it is more commonly abbreviated, is prepared by treatment of triphenyltin chloride with lithium aluminium hydride. Although Ph3SnH is treated as a source of 'H·', in fact it does not release free hydrogen atoms, which are extremely reactive species. Instead, Ph3SnH transfers H to substrates usually via a radical chain mechanism. This reactivity exploits the relatively good stability of 'Ph3Sn·'