Abstract: The title complex, tris(2-methyl-2-phenyl) propyl tin trichloroacetic acid ester(CCDC:932139), was synthesized by the reaction of bis[tris(2-methyl-2-phenyl)propyl]tin oxide with trichloroacetic acid and characterized by IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, respectively. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction to be monoclinic with a P21/n space group with a=1.1186(4) nm, b=1.8366(7) nm, c=1.6020(6) nm, α=90°, β=91.316(10)°, γ=90°, V=3.2902(19) nm3, Z=4, Dc=1.374 g/cm3, μ(MoKα)=1.046 mm-1, F(000)=1392, and R1=0.0589, wR2=0.1619. The crystal structure shows that the central Sn atom is four-coordinated to assume a distorted tetrahedral configuration. Bioassay results show that the complex displays good in vitro antitumor activities against five human tumor cell lines, HT-29, HepG-2, MCF-7, KB and A549, and has selective antibacterial property.

Key words: organotin carboxylates, synthesis, crystal structure, in vitro antitumor activity, antibacterial activity