Cis-bis(acetonitrile)tetrachlorotin(IV) acetonitrile solvate, cis-tetrachlorobis(propiononitrile)tin(IV) propiononitrile solvate, cis-tetrachlorobis(isobutyronitrile)tin(IV), cis-tetrachlorobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile)tin(IV) and cis-tetrachlorobis(o-toluonitrile)tin(IV), all determined at ca 150 K.

The structures of the title compounds, [SnCl(4)(C(2)H(3)N)(2)] x C(2)H(3)N*-, [SnCl(4)(C(3)H(5)N)(2)] x C(3)H(5)N, [SnCl(4)(C(4)H(7)N)(2)], [SnCl(4)(C(7)H(11)N)(2)] and [SnCl(4)(C(8)H(7)N)(2)], were determined with the intention of examining the effect of various substituent types in nitrile ligands, RCN, behaving in a common sigma-donor situation [in this case, as cis-bis complexes with SnCl(4), viz. [SnCl(4)(RCN)(2)]], on (i) the strength of complex formation with the metal atom and (ii) other bonding behaviour of the metal (for example, trans effects). The five structures exhibit no non-trivial systematic perturbation that can be said to be contingent on the substituent type.