Aspects of the chemistry of diorgano tritellurides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(94)80040-5

The synthetic methods available for diorgano tritellurides, which normally give only poor to moderate yields of product, are evaluated.Most reliable when organic groups such as 2-(2'-pyridyl)phenyl- are involved is the reaction of Te² with the organotellurenyl halide in DMF.Other methods require a final oxidative step.Reactions of Te^2-2 with organotellurenyl halides in DMF give deep red solutions which quantitatively deposit tellurium on exposure to air; successful syntheses of (RTe)2Se2 (R=2-(2'-pyridyl or 2'-quinolinyl)phenyl-) were carried out by use of Se^2-2 in DMF solution.The air stable bis-<2-(p-tolyl-iminomethyl)phenyl> tritelluride is reported, and its 125Te and Raman spectral data presented.The role of intra-molecular coordination in stabilising these molecules may be a secondary one; the steric effect of a bulky 2-substituent on the tellurated phenyl-ring may be more significant.Key words: Tellurium; Tritelluride