Well after a comment made by Antoncho
Post 464917
(Antoncho: "Thanx a lot, Imp!", Chemistry Discourse), SWIM decided to see how effective a reducing agent SnCl2 is, so a quick experiment was performed...
10g tin metal were dissolved in 40ml HCl to generate SnCl2. The water clear solution was filtered of insolubles, then 2ml nitromethane was added with a pipette in one portion. The nitromethane formed a layer on top, but then in a matter of seconds quickly dissolved in the solution with the evolution of much much heat. The solution almost began to boil, but settled down after several minutes. It was clear in colour. Basification caused tin hydroxide to crash out of solution and a fishy ammonia-like smell - the methylamine.
35g tin metal were dissolved in 50ml HCl to generate 0,3 mol SnCl2. Filtered, then added 0,1 mol nitromethane, 6,5g or 5,75ml. Very exothermic reaction insued, and was allowed to relax. Basification caused same result.
SWIM expected something like this happened...
2CH3NO2 + 6SnCl2 + 24HCl ---> (CH2N+H3)2Sn-Cl6 + 5H2SnCl6 + 4H2O
So what do you guys think? SWIM liked how quick and simple it was, although it was a simple aliphatic nitro compound.