The oxidation of diphenyl ditelluride by substituted orthobenzoquinones, and the molecular structure of 2O

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(93)83349-Z

The reaction between tetrahalogeno-ortho-benzoquinones (X4C6O2-o; X=Cl, Br) and diphenyl ditelluride gives the unusual tellurium(IV) derivatives <(X4C6O2)TeC6H5>2O.Crystallographic studies show that tellurium is coordinated by a substituted catecholate, a phenyl group, and a bridging oxygen.The mechanism of the reaction probably involves initial formation of a semiquinone-tellurium-phenyl species, since ESR spectroscopy identifies the presence of o-semiquinone radicals.A similar reaction was observed with (C6H5)2Te2 and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-ortho-benzoquinone.