Structural Studies in Tellurium Chemistry

Abstract

The primary theme of this research was the characterisation of new and novel organo-tellurium complexes, using the technique of single crystal X-ray analysis to establish more firmly the various coordination modes of tellurium. In each study the unit cell dimensions and intensity data were collected using an Enraf-Nonius CAD-4, four circle diffractometer. The raw data collected in turn was transferred to the Birmingham University Honeywell Multics System and processed using the appropriate computer packages for the determination of crystal structures. The molecular and crystal structures of: bis[2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl]tritelluride, bis[2-(N-hydroxy)iminophenyl] ditelluride, 2-(2-pyridyl)phenyltellurium(IV) tribromide, (2-N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-C,N')tellurium(IV)tribromide, 2-dichloro(butyl)tellurobenzaldehyde, 2-dichlorobutotelluro-N-dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, dimethyldithiocarbamato[2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl]tellurium(II), dimethyldithiocarbamato[2-(2-quinolinyl)phenyl]tellurium(II) and para-ethoxypheny[2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl]telluride are described. In each structure, the Lewis acidity of tellurium appears to be satisfied by autocomplex formation, through short-range intramolecular secondary bonds between tellurium and an electron denoting species, (generally nitrogen in these structures) with long range weak inter molecular contacts forming in the majority of the tellurium(IV) structures. The order of Lewis acidity in each structure can be considered to be reflected by the length of the short range intramolecular secondary bond, identified, that is, when tellurium has a low Lewis acidity this interaction is long. Interestingly, no primary bonds are found trans to a Te-C covalent bond in any of the above structures, highlighting the strong trans effect of aromatic and aryl groups in tellurium complexes.