Abstract. Self-assembly of dibutyltin oxide with 3-(1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-phenalen-2-yl)benzoic acid (HL) produces (nBu) 2 SnL 2 (1) when benzene is used as solvent, whereas the reaction generates {[(nBu) 2 SnO] 2 L} 2 ·C 7 H 8 (2) when toluene is the reactive solvent. The novel organotin carboxylate (nBu) 2 SnL 2 (1) was characterized by elemental analysis, as well as IR,