Three organotin complexes containing furosemide as a ligand (L), Ph₃SnL, Me₂SnL₂ and Bu₂SnL₂, were synthesized and characterized. Octahedral geometry was proposed for the Me₂SnL₂ and Bu₂SnL₂, while the Ph₃SnL complex has trigonal bipyramid geometry. The synthesized organotin complexes (0.5% by weight) were used as additives to improve the photostability of poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, (40 μm thickness) upon irradiation. The changes imposed on functional groups, weight loss and viscosity average molecular weight of PVC films were monitored. The experimental results show that the rate of photodegradation was reduced in the presence of the organotin additives. The quantum yield of the chain scission was found to be low (9.8 × 10(-7)) when Ph₃SnL was used as a PVC photostabilizer compared to controlled PVC (5.18 × 10(-6)). In addition, the atomic force microscope images for the PVC films containing Ph₃SnL₂ after irradiation shows a smooth surface compared to the controlled films. The rate of PVC photostabilization was found to be highest for Ph₃SnL followed by Bu₂SnL₂ and Me₂SnL₂. It has been suggested that the organotin complexes could act as hydrogen chloride scavengers, ultraviolet absorbers, peroxide decomposers and/or radical scavengers.
Keywords: atomic force microscope; irradiation; organotin complexes; photostabilizers; poly(vinyl chloride).