Diorgano‐ and triorgano‐tin(IV) derivatives of meso‐tetra(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphine (H4TPPS) with general formula (R2Sn)2TPPS and (R3Sn)4TPPS (TPPS4−=[meso‐tetra(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinate]4−, R=Me, Bu, Ph) have been obtained and their solid‐state configuration inferred on the basis of IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy, while solution‐phase studies have been carried out by 1H and 13C NMR in DMSO‐d6, together with determination of the in vivo cytotoxicity of the new derivatives towards embryonic development of Ciona intestinalis. In particular, octahedral and trigonal‐bipyramidal eq‐R3Sn polymeric configurations are proposed, in the solid state, respectively for (R2Sn)2TPPS and (R3Sn)4TPPS complexes, with the arylsulfonate groups behaving as monoanionic bidentate bridging ligands.
The 1H and 13C NMR data lead to the conclusion that the metal‐to‐ligand ratio (2:1 or 4:1), binding site (the sulfonato‐group oxygens), and the coordination polyhedron around the metal (trans‐octahedral or trigonal‐bipyramidal) found in the solid state are preserved in solution. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.