A series of tin(IV) guanidinates were prepared by a (4+1) oxidative cycloaddition of four 1,2-diones (3,5-di-tertbutyl-o-benzoquinone, 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenedione, 1,2-diphenylethanedione) or by an oxidative addition of a C−Br bond (from 2-bromo-1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione followed by rearrangement) and a Cl−Cl bond (Cl 2 generated from (dichloro-λ 3 -iodanyl)benzene) with {pTol-NC[N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ]N-pTol} 2 Sn (1). The reactivity of five pentane-1,3-diones and dimethyl malonate with compound 1 was assessed on the basis of the effect of 1,3-diones on the reaction mechanism in comparison with 1,2-diones. In contrast with oxidation reactions observed for compounds containing conjugated CO bonds, the reactions of the tin(II) guanidinate with 1,3-diones revealed a high ability for ligand substitution. All the tin compounds prepared were characterized, and ligand substitution reactions were monitored using 1 H, 13 C, and 119 Sn NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of one tin(II) and five tin(IV) guanidinato complexes investigated were determined by Xray diffraction. All tin(IV) compounds display six-or seven-coordination. The UV−vis absorption spectra were recorded and simulated by TDDFT methods in order to get insight into the origin of the nontypical colors of the target tin(IV) diolatoguanidinates and their keto-functionalized precursors.