One-pot synthesis of aryl butyl tellurides from tellurium tetrachloride and activated aromatics through a solventless step

A solventless preparation of aryl tellurium trichlorides from activated aromatic compounds avoiding the use of hazardous solvents as carbon tetrachloride and chloroform is described. The trichlorides were reduced and alkylated leading to aryl butyl tellurides in a one-pot procedure. Transmetallation of these tellurides with n-butyllithium followed by reaction with benzaldehyde gave the corresponding benzhydrols in good yields.