Tin(IV) chloride is a precursor to prepare organotin compounds such as tetralkyltin and dialkyldichlorotin(IV), which find applications as catalysts and polymer stabilizers. As a Lewis acid catalyst, it is used in Fridel-Crafts reactions for alkylation and cyclization. It is involved in the selective nitration of aromatic compounds in the presence of fuming nitric acid. Furthermore, it is used to prepare tin(IV) oxide coating by sol-gel process.

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