Zinc(II) arene tellurolato complexes as precursors to zinc telluride. The crystal and molecular structure of [Zn(TeC6H2Me3-2,4,6)2(pyridine)2]

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0277-5387(95)00215-E

The zinc tellurolato complex [Zn(TeC6H2Me3-2,4,6)2]n (1) was obtained byprotolysis of Zn[N(SiMe3)2]2 with mesitylene tellurol, 2,4,6-Me3C6H2TeH , in light petroleum. The complex formed a coordination polymer soluble only in strongly coordinating solvents. Reaction with one equivalent of PMe3 afforded [Zn(TeC6H2Me3)2(PMe3)] (2), while an excess of Lewis basesL gave four-coordinate adducts [Zn(TeC6H2Me3)2L2] [L=PMe3 (3), N-methyl imidazole (5), pyridine (6); L(2)=Me2PC2H4PMe2 (4)]. The adducts are more soluble than 1 but lose L on heating. The crystal structure of 6 has been determined by X-ray diffraction and confirmed the monomeric nature of the complex. Heating the complexes either without a solvent or in paraffin oil to 270-320°C led to the formation of cubic ZnTe. Prolonged exposure to temperatures of 350°C in vacuo led to the slow decomposition of ZnTe into the elements. The thermolysis of 1 in refluxing 4-ethylpyridine proceeded more slowly giving nano-scale particles of ZnTe, accompanied by the formation of crystalline tellurium.