A utility for organoleads: selective alkyl and aryl group transfer to tin.

Me4Pb and Ph4Pb readily transfer methyl or phenyl groups to an equivalent molar ratio of tin(iv) chlorides in the order SnCl4 > MeSnCl3 > Me2SnCl2 > Me3SnCl, often in a selective manner. Me3PbCl and Ph3PbCl specifically transfer a single methyl/phenyl group under the same reaction conditions to produce recovered yields in >75%. Specific transfer of 2 methyl groups from PbMe4 can be achieved at elevated temperatures and/or a 2 : 1 molar ratio Pb : Sn.