2,4,6-Triphenylphenyltellurium(IV) triiodide - supramolecular self-assembling in organotellurium triiodides

2,4,6-Triphenylphenyltellurium(IV) triiodide, (2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)TeI₃, can be obtained by the reaction of the corresponding ditelluride {(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)Te}₂ with iodine under an atmosphere of dry nitrogen in toluene. The apparent bisphenoidal coordination sphere of the central tellurium atom is extended by the presence of intermolecular Te?I and I?I secondary bonds which form chains along the crystallographic a axis. Weak intramolecular interactions with one of the phenyl rings of the (2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₅) unit completes the pseudo-octahedral coordination geometry around each tellurium atom. A comparison of the structure of (2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)TeI₃ with the bonding situations in other organotellurium(IV) triiodides suggests a strong dependence of the formation of supramolecular assemblies on the nature of the organic substituents.