Organic tellurium compounds—VIII Di-aryl tellurides as dehalogenation agents —the reduction of metallic salts by DI-p-tolyl telluride

The reaction of di-p-tolyltelluride with ferric, cupric and mercuric chloride, performed in glacial acetic acid, effects the reduction of the metallic salts giving rise to di-p-tolyltellurium dichloride. In toluene solution only the ferric chloride was reduced and the anhydride of di-p-tolyltellurium hydroxychloride formed, due to the hydrolysis of the tellurium dichloride. The reaction of the mentioned telluride and benzoyl chloride gave rise to a mixture of the dichloride and the dibenzoate. The mechanism of this reaction is discussed.