The reaction of Sn(NMe
2)
2 with the primary phosphido alkali metal complex PhPHNa(1:2 equiv, respectively) in the presence of the Lewis base donor PMDETA [(Me
2NCH
2CH
2)
2NMe] gives the heterometallic cage [{(PhP-PPh)Sn(
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-PPh)}
2(Na·PMDETA)
4 (
1), containingthe novel [(PhP-PPh)Sn(
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
-PPh)]
24- tetraanion. The analogous reaction using pyPHLi (py= 2-pyridyl) in THF/toluene as the solvent gives the neutral cage [{Sn(
3-Ppy)}
3{Sn(
3,
1-pyP-Ppy)}
3] (
2), having a unique "stacked" propeller arrangement in the solid state.