The present paper gives an account of the results of a systematic investigation on the fungicidal It is shown that among these compounds one structural Within this type the influence on theThe toxicity of organo-tin compounds towards some other organisms is mentioned briefly. The final section deals with possibilities for practical applications of organo-tin compounds From the results of laboratory tests the preservation properties of organo-tin compounds.type in particular exhibits a very high fungicidal activity.activity of the nature of the various groups linked to tin has been investigated.as a consequence of their biocidal properties. of wood seems the most promising possibility.

The preparation of tetrabutyltin by a Wurtz reaction from stannic chloride, butyl chloride and sodium is described. To avoid losses of tin, due to the reduction of stannic chloride, a cyclic process is developed: instead of stannic chloride, dibutyltin dichloride is used as a starting material in the Wurtz reaction. The tetrabutyltin obtained is treated with stannic chloride to give dibutyltin dichloride, part of which has to be recycled. The disproportionation reaction used in the preparation of dibutyltin dichloride from tetrabutyltin and the chlorination of hexabutyldistannane, obtained as a by‐product in the Wurtz reaction, are briefly dealt with.

Whereas in α‐substituted organo‐tin nitriles and esters the functionally substituted group is easily removed from the tin atom, it appears that groups in which the substituent occupies a β‐position or beyond with respect to the tin atom are very resistant to tin‐carbon bond cleavage. With compounds containing groups of the latter type, the reactions studied result in rapid cleavage of unsubstituted aryl or alkyl groups. Various organo‐tin halides containing alkyl groups substituted in the β‐position or beyond are described.

Reactions of cyanoalkyl‐ and methoxycarbonylalkyl‐tin compounds with lithium aluminium hydride and Grignard reagents have been studied. Several new organo‐tin compounds containing hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl and ketoalkyl groups are described.

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