Synthesis and structures of some diorganotin bis(hydroxamate)s

Analysis of literature data on the antitumor activity of organotin compounds reveals that R2SnX2 and their complexes containing SnO, SnN or SnS bonds often exhibit biological activity, especially if such bonds are formed by means of intramolecular coordination. Furthermore, a wide range of biological activities, from fungicidal, bactericidal and antiseptic to psychotropic and antitumor, is found to be characteristic for some organic hydroxamic acids (N-acylhydroxylamines). From this point of view the diorgantion bis-hydroxamates in this paper are of particular interest as potential biologically active antitumor drugs. Di-n-butyltin bis(N-methyl-N-p-bromobenzoylhydroxylamine) is being screened for antitumor activity.