The first examples of lead(ii) boroxides, [Pb(OB{CH(SiMe3)2}2)2] (1) and [{N^C}PbOB{CH(SiMe3)2}2] (5; N^C = 2-Me2NCH2C6H4), were prepared via simple protocols. These structurally characterised compounds are stable and, unlike lead(ii) alkoxides and siloxides, do not trigger uncontrolled formation of lead(ii) oxoclusters.

Organotin(iv) compounds might be used as linkers for building coordination polymers as suggested by the isolation of [{2-(OCH)C6H4}Me2SnO(O)CC5H4N-4]ZnTPP.

Novel triorganotin(iv) nicotinates and isonicotinates were successfully synthesized and fully characterized. The preliminary results for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against the mouse colon carcinoma C26 cell line are also reported.

A readily available aminofluoroalcohol enables the high-yield synthesis of a three-coordinate heteroleptic lead(ii) amido complex, which in turn generates a rare case of stable boryloxide lead(ii) species upon treatment with a borinic acid.