Modulated structure of trimethyltin hydroxide at T = 100 K

What is it about?

At low temperatures the metalorganic compound trimethyltin hydroxide, (CH3)(3) SnOH, possesses a commensurately modulated crystal structure, the modulation wave vector can be described as q = 1/2 c*. The crystal structure is studied by analysing single-crystal X-ray diffraction data within the (3+1)-dimensional superspace approach and superspace group P2(1)2(1)2(00 gamma)00s. The corresponding twofold superstructure has space group symmetry P2(1)2(1)2(1).

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Why is it important?

The structure is characterised by polymeric chains running along c-axis, generated by Sn-O-Sn bridges between neighbouring Sn atoms and packed in a distorted hexagonal pattern and linked via C-H center dot center dot center dot O inter-strand hydrogen bonds along the (orthorhombic) directions [110] and [1-10], but not along [100].