Polarography of Sn(IV) and Ge(IV) Chloride in Acetonitrile

Abstract

Spectrophotometric and polarographic data demonstrate that the normal Sn(IV) and Ge(IV) chlorides are nonelectrolytes in the aprotic solvent acetonitrile. Both form the corresponding hexachloro species in the presence of chloride ion. Sn(IV) chloride is quantitatively converted to the hexachlorostannate ion while Ge(IV) chloride behaves as a weaker Lewis acid and exists in an equilibrium with the hexochloro ion in the presence of excess chloride. Each of the normal metal halides acts as a Lewis acceptor toward a test pyridine‐N‐oxide ligand in acetonitrile. Sn(IV) and Ge(IV) chloride are polarographically reduced in a 4e − step at which the production of the corresponding hexachloro ion, reducible only at higher potentials, controls the plateau current.