In 1999, Dakternieks and co-workers reported a related reaction at a Sn complex, observed during fragmentation in a mass spectrometer. Application of a high cone voltage (> 60 V) to a acetonitrile solution of the tris(neo-pentyl) stannyl cation [Sn{CH2C(Me)3}3] + 2 showed formation of methyl tin cations and release of isobutene gas. Reaction of the deuterium labelled analog [Sn{CD2C(Me)3}3] + showed the formation of isobutene gas with the alkene protons D-labelled, consistent with a -alkyl elimination process. An alternate Sn-C bond homolysis and radical pathway was not ruled out and cannot be discounted under fragmentation conditions in the mass spectrometer.