AbstractTriorganotin halides, oxides and sulphides can be dissolved in molten, mixed‐metal acetates atca140–160°C without decomposition; quenching provides glasses into which are encapsulated the organotin species. Halide/acetate and oxide/acetate, but not sulphide/acetate, exchanges occur in the melt. Only partial exchange was found for hindered trineophyl tin chloride [(PhCMe2CH2)3SnCl], in contrast to the complete exchanges observed for the butyl (Bu), phenyl (Ph) and cyclohexyl (Cy) analogues. Complete oxide/acetate exchange was found for (Bu3Sn)2O, partial exchange occurred for (Cy3Sn)2O, whilst no exchange resulted with bis(trineophyltin) oxide or (Ph3Sn)2O. Tin–tin bonds (e.g. as in Ph3SnSnPh3) and carbon–tin bonds (even the allyl–Sn bond in Bu3SnCH2CHCH2) are not affected. The acetate glasses dissolve in aqueous media with release of the organotin species and they have potential as slow‐release systems which is currently bein