Catalyze direct reactions

The reaction of higher alkyl chlorides with tin metal at 235°C is not practical because of the thermal decomposition which occurs before the products can be removed from the reaction zone. The reaction temperature necessary for the formation of dimethyl tin dichloride can be lowered considerably by the use of certain catalysts. Quaternary ammonium and phosphonium iodides allow the reaction to proceed in good yield at 150—160°C (109). An improvement in the process involves the use of amine—stannic chloride complexes or mixtures of stannic chloride and a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium compound (110). Use of these catalysts is claimed to yield dimethyl tin dichloride containing less than 0.1 wt % trimethyl tin chloride. Catalyzed direct reactions under pressure are used commercially to manufacture dimethyl tin dichloride. 

Catalyzed Direct Reactions of Silicon edited by K.M. Lewis and D.G. Rethwlsch... 

Catalyzed Direct Reactions of Silicon Lewis, K. M., Rethwisch, D. G., Eds. Elsevier Amsterdam, 1993. 

At mixed oxide electrodes, free orbitals of the metals from the platinum group (Pt, Ir, Ru) are able to catalyze direct reactions such as the formation of chlorine. First, chloride is bound to the surface of the electrode oxidation happens in the second step. 

---