A new range of heterocyclic telluronium salts based on 1,2,4,5-bis(telluracyclopentano)benzene: Synthesis and spectroscopic considerations

The reactions of 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(bromomethyl)-benzene with sodium organotellurates (NaTeR) afford white telluronium salts of the type XRTe(CH₂)₂C₆H₂(CH₂)₂TeRX where R = p-EtOC₆H₄ and p-MeOC₆H₄ and X = Br. Reactions of 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(bromomethyl)-benzene with elemental tellurium powder and an excess of sodium iodide in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) give 1,2,4,5-bis(1,1-diiodotelluracyclopentano)benzene, C₁₀H₁₀Te₂I₄ as orange-red crystals in poor yield, together with a yellow amorphous precipitate as the main product, the structure of which is still obscure. Reduction of the bis(diiodide) compound gave a light and air sensitive ditelluride, C₁₀H₁₀Te₂, which, on treatment with ethyl bromide, afforded a white telluronium salt of 1,2,4,5-bis(1′-bromo-1′-ethyl-telluracyclopentano)benzene, C₁₄H₂₀Te₂Br₂. The synthesis, spectroscopic data, and solution properties of the prepared compounds are reported and discussed.