A new trioxystannate-transition metal complex, {[Li][(Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O)(3)Sn-Fe(CO)(4)]}(2) (3), exhibiting an unusual type of the heteronuclear bonding between heavier Group 14 elements and transition metals, has been synthesised and completely characterised by NMR, Raman and IR spectroscopy in solution as well as by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis in the solid state.