The mononuclear organotins cover a huge field as shown by a recent survey, covering the crystallographic and structural data of almost 1000 examples. Over 11% of these complexes exist as isomers and are summarized in this paper. Included are distortion (88.8%) and ligand (11.2%) isomerism. These are discussed in terms of coordination about tin atom, and correlations are drawn between donor atoms, bond lengths and interbond angles. Distortion isomers differ only by degree of distortion in Sn–L and L–Sn–L angles, which are the most common. There are tin atoms in the oxidation states +2 and +4 (most common) and ligand isomerism (+4 only). The antimicrobial activity increases with the higher degree of the tetrahedral distortion.

The use of organotins in industry markedly rose especially in the period from 1960s to 1980s (1). The largest use is as stabilizers for poly (vinyl chloride), the industrial applications of nontoxic organotin compounds, especially R2SnX2 account for a great proportion of the total consumption. Dialkyltin dicarboxylates are useful catalysts for polyurethane foam formation and as cross-linking system agents in vulcanization at room temperature. Monobutyltins have been used as catalysts in transesterification and esterification reactions, e.g., in the reaction between phtalic anhydride and 2-ethylhexanol.

The biocidal activity (2) of triorganotin compounds has been utilized in a number of applications, such as antifungal agents for crops, acericides, antifouling agents in marine coatings of paints, and wood conservatives. Both dialkyltins and trialkyltins exhibit oxidative metabolism, but in different ways. Triorganotin species act on the coupling ATPase, but the diorganotins act on substrate oxidation. Diorganotin species have been found useful as anthelminthic agents in poultry, insecticides for sheep and cattle, and parasitic agents for turkeys.

Isomers of Organotin Compounds:Mononuclear Compounds, mononuclear organotins, antimicrobial activity, tetrahedral distortion, vinyl chloride, industrial applications, nontoxic organotin compounds, polyurethane, foam formation, cross-linking system, catalysts in transesterification, esterification reactions, phtalic anhydride, biocidal activity, triorganotin compounds, antifungal agents for crops, acericides, antifouling agents, poultry, insecticides, parasitic agents for turkeys.