Room-Temperature Synthesis of [BMIm][Sn(5)O(2)Cl(7)] with (∞)(1)(Sn(2)OCl(2)) Strands in a Saline [BMIm][SnCl(3)] Matrix

[Image: see text] The novel tin(II) oxychloride [BMIm][Sn(5)O(2)Cl(7)] (BMIm = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) is obtained by the room-temperature reaction (25 °C) of black SnO and SnCl(2) in [BMIm]Cl/SnCl(2) as an ionic liquid. The title compound can be described as composed of noncharged, infinite (∞)(1)(Sn(2)OCl(2)) strands that are embedded in a saline matrix of [BMIm](+) and [SnCl(3)](−). The (∞)(1)(Sn(2)OCl(2)) strands consist of a backbone of edge-sharing OSn(4/2) tetrahedra, which represent one-dimensional (1D) strands cut out of the layer-type structure of SnO. In [BMIm][Sn(5)O(2)Cl(7)], the (∞)(1)(Sn(2)OCl(2)) strands, which mimic a 1D semiconductor, are terminated by chlorine atoms, whereas they are interconnected by oxygen atoms in the 2D semiconductor SnO. The view of the noncharged (∞)(1)(Sn(2)OCl(2)) strands in a saline [BMIm][SnCl(3)] matrix is validated by dissolution experiments. Thus, electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy show a deconstruction of [BMIm][Sn(5)O(2)Cl(7)] single crystals after treatment with chloroform with a dissolution of [BMIm][SnCl(3)], the formation of SnCl(2) needles, and tin oxide as a solid remain.