Three organotin(IV) complexes containing ciprofloxacin as a ligand (Ph3SnL, Me2SnL2 and Bu2SnL2; 0.5% by weight) were used as additives to inhibit the photodegradation of polyvinyl chloride films (40 µm thickness) upon irradiation with ultraviolet light (λmax = 313 at a light intensity = 7.75 × 10−7 ein dm−3 S−1) at room temperature. The efficiency of organotin(IV) complexes as photostabilizers was determined by monitoring the changes in the weight, growth of specific functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl and carbene), viscosity, average molecular weight, chain scission and degree of deterioration of the polymeric films upon irradiation. The results obtained indicated that organotin(IV) complexes stabilized poly(vinyl chloride) and the dimethyltin(IV) complex was the most efficient additive. The surface morphologies of poly(vinyl chloride) films containing organotin(IV) complexes were examined using an atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscopy. These showed that the surface of polymeric films containing organotin(IV) complexes were smoother and less rough, compared to the surface of the blank films. Some mechanisms that explained the role of organotin(IV) complexes in poly(vinyl chloride) photostabilization process were proposed.

PVC undergoes through many damaging changes upon the exposure to UV light. The rate of photodecomposition constant have been calculated for PVC films as a method for evaluating the efficiency of the organotin(IV) complexes Me2Sn(L)2, Bu2Sn(L)2 and Ph3Sn(L) that are used as a photostabilizers after 300 hour of irradiation. The results have showed that the additives had reduced the rate of photodecomposition constant of PVC films significantly with comparison to PVC (blank). The (Kd) value for PVC films was the highest (1.04 × 10 2 sec 1) in the absence of any additives, and the lowest value (4.79 × 10-3 sec-1) was in the presence of dimethyltin (IV) complex. The surface morphology of PVC films examined utilizing the atomic force microscope (AFM).

The field of organotin chemistry has a long history that started since 1849, when Frankland isolated a specimen of diethyltin diiodide [1]. In 1852, Lowich reported on the reaction of alkyl halides with a tin-sodium alloy giving alkyltin compounds [2]. This last publication is usually considered to represent the beginning of organotin chemistry. By 1935, about hundreds of publications concerning organotin chemistry had appeared in the literature. At that time, important names had played a role in the development of organotin chemistry were Krause in Germany, Kraus in the United States, and Kozeshkov in Russia. The discovery of organotin compounds industrial applications as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) stabilizers, as agrochemicals, biocides, and wood preservatives produced a revival of organotin chemistry. Particularly van der