10.1016/S0040-4039(00)95051-2
The research investigates the utility of sodium hydrogen telluride as a nucleophilic reagent for the cleavage of epoxides and quaternary ammonium salts. The purpose of the study was to explore the reagent's ability to open epoxides via an SN2 process to yield telluro-alcohols, which could then be reduced to alcohols using nickel boride. The research also discovered a method to convert telluro-alcohols into olefins with high yield by treatment with p-toluene-sulphonyl chloride in pyridine. Sodium hydrogen telluride was found to be an efficient reagent for the dealkylation of quaternary ammonium salts, a process that complements the classical Emde cleavage and offers the advantage of functionalized cleavage products. The chemicals used in the process include sodium hydrogen telluride, ethanol, 1,2-dibromoethane, nickel boride, pyridine, toluene-p-sulphonyl chloride, and various epoxides and ammonium salts. The conclusions of the study highlight the effectiveness of sodium hydrogen telluride in organic synthesis, particularly in the formation of carbon-tellurium bonds and the conversion of epoxides into alcohols and olefins.