Polystannane
![Repeating unit of polystannane.](/Images/godic/202502/03/Polystannane125028.jpg")
![Schematic representation of a linear polystannane macromolecule.](/Images/godic/202502/03/Kette125028.jpg")
![Three common synthesis routes used to prepare polystannanes: (1) polymerization of tin dichlorides by Wurtz or Wurtz-like reactions, (2) electrochemical reactions and (3) catalytic dehydropolymerization of tin dihydrides.
.](/Images/godic/202502/03/Dehydro22.svg5028.png")
![Synthesis of pure linear poly(dibutylstannane).](/Images/godic/202502/03/Wilkinson5028.png")
Polystannanes are organotin compounds with the formula (R2Sn)n. These polymers have been of intermittent academic interest; they are unusual because heavy elements comprise the backbone. Structurally related but better characterized (and more useful) are the polysilanes (R2Si)n.