The mass spectra of alkyl phenyl tellurides

The mass spectra of several alkyl phenyl tellurides, C₆H₅TeR (R = CH₃, CD₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, i-C₃H₇ and n-C₄H₉) have been studied with special emphasis on the fragmentation patterns involving cleavage of the alkyl and aryl tellurium–carbon bonds. Each compound exhibited intense parent ions. The rearrangement ions C₆H₆Te]⁺? and C₆H₆]⁺? were found in the spectra of phenyl ethyl and higher tellurides. Two other rearrangement ions HTe]⁺ and C₇H₇]⁺ were observed in the spectrum of each compound. Examination of the mass spectrum of phenyl methyl-d₃ telluride demonstrated that the HTe]⁺ ions derive hydrogen from the phenyl group.