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Tin is unique in that it has no less than three NMR active spin ½ nuclei, ¹¹⁵Sn, ¹¹⁷Sn and ¹¹⁹Sn, that yield narrow signals (fig. 1) over a very wide chemical shift range. ¹¹⁹Sn is very slightly the more sensitive than ¹¹⁷Sn so ¹¹⁹Sn is therefore usually the preferred nucleus. ¹¹⁵Sn is much less sensitive than either ¹¹⁷Sn or ¹¹⁹Sn. Tin NMR is mostly used for the study of organotin compounds, but is also applicable to inorganic tin compounds.

Fig. 1. Comparison of the NMR spectra of the tin isotopes ¹¹⁵Sn, ¹¹⁷Sn and ¹¹⁹Sn for SnCl₄ (neat)

Each type of tin compound has its characteristic chemical shift range (fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Chemical shift ranges for tin NMR

All the tin nuclei couple to other nuclei, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, ³¹P, etc., couplings have been reported. One bond couplings to ¹³C are getween 1200 and 1500 Hz. To ¹H one bond couplings are from 1750 to 3000 Hz, to ¹⁹F from 130 to 2000 Hz and to ³¹P they are from 50 to 2400 Hz. Two-bond Sn-H coupling constants are apporximately 50 Hz. Homonuclear ¹¹⁹Sn-¹¹⁹Sn and heteronuclear ¹¹⁹Sn-¹¹⁷Sn have been reported from 200 to 4500 Hz. Three and four bond couplings have been reported.

¹¹⁵Tin NMR

¹¹⁵Sn is much less sensitive than the other tin nuclei, so is not the preferred nucleus of tin. It is a spin ½ nucleus and yields sharp signals (fig. 3).

Fig. 3. ¹¹⁵Sn-NMR spectrum of SnCl₄ (neat)

Properties of ¹¹⁵Sn

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Property	Value
Spin	1/2
Natural abundance	0.34%
Chemical shift range	2600 ppm, from -1900 to 700
Frequency ratio (Ξ)	32.718749%
Reference compound	Me4Sn 90% in C6D6
Linewidth of reference	2.7 Hz
T1 of reference	0.65 s
Receptivity rel. to 1H at natural abundance	1.24 × 10-4
Receptivity rel. to 1H when enriched	0.0365
Receptivity rel. to 13C at natural abundance	0.711
Receptivity rel. to 13C when enriched	209

¹¹⁷Tin NMR

¹¹⁷Sn is slightly less sensitive than ¹¹⁹Sn, so is not usually the preferred nucleus of tin. It is a spin ½ nucleus and yields sharp signals (fig. 4).

Fig. 4. ¹¹⁷Sn-NMR spectrum of SnCl₄ (neat)

Properties of ¹¹⁷Sn

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Property	Value
Spin	1/2
Natural abundance	7.68%
Chemical shift range	2600 ppm, from -1900 to 700
Frequency ratio (Ξ)	35.632259%
Reference compound	Me4Sn 90% in C6D6
Linewidth of reference	2.5 Hz
T1 of reference	0.65 s
Receptivity rel. to 1H at natural abundance	3.54 × 10-3
Receptivity rel. to 1H when enriched	0.04615
Receptivity rel. to 13C at natural abundance	20.8
Receptivity rel. to 13C when enriched	271

¹¹⁹Tin NMR

¹¹⁹Sn is slightly more sensitive than ¹¹⁷Sn and much more sensitive than¹¹⁵Sn, so it is usually the preferred nucleus of tin. It is a spin ½ nucleus and yields sharp signals (fig. 5).

Fig. 5. ¹¹⁹Sn-NMR spectrum of SnCl₄ (neat)

Properties of ¹¹⁹Sn

(Click here for explanation)

Property	Value
Spin	1/2
Natural abundance	8.59%
Chemical shift range	2600 ppm, from -1900 to 700
Frequency ratio (Ξ)	37.290632%
Reference compound	Me4Sn 90% in C6D6
Linewidth of reference	2.5 Hz
T1 of reference	0.65 s
Receptivity rel. to 1H at natural abundance	4.53 × 10-3
Receptivity rel. to 1H when enriched	0.0527
Receptivity rel. to 13C at natural abundance	26.6
Receptivity rel. to 13C when enriched	310

Safety note

Some of the materials mentioned here are very dangerous. Ask a qualified chemist for advice before handling them. Qualified chemists should check the relevant safety literature before handling or giving advice about unfamiliar substances. NMR solvents are toxic and most are flammable. Specifically, tin may be toxic in large doses. Tin (IV) chloride reacts violently with water yielding corrosive and poisonous HCl.

References

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