When the diphenic acid HO2CC6H4C6H4CO2H is allowed to react with SnBu2Cl2 or SnPh3OH, HO2CC6H4C6H4CO2. SnBu2Cl (A) and O2CC6H4C6H4CO2(SnPh3)2∙4H2O(B) were obtained and characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The structures are an infinite chain or an oligomer, the diphenic anion being a monodentate or a monochelating ligand. The environment around the tin centers is trigonal bipyramidal or octahedral.