Kinetic and donor stabilization of organotellurenyl iodides and azides.

The first tellurium compounds containing the extremely bulky tris(phenyldimethylsilyl)methyl (Tpsi) and 2,6-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phenyl (2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)) moieties have been synthesized and isolated. Careful oxidation of the tellurolate TpsiTeLi (1) resulted in the formation of the crowded ditellane (TpsiTe)(2) (2), and iodination of 2 gave the alkanetellurenyl iodide TpsiTeI (3). In a similar fashion, the terphenyl-substituted ditellane (2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)Te)(2) (9) and the arenetellurenyl iodide 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)TeI (10) were prepared. Reaction of the iodides TpsiTeI (3) and 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)TeI (10), as well as TripTeI, MesTeI (Trip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl, Mes = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl), and the donor-stabilized 2-Me(2)NCH(2)C(6)H(4)TeI, with AgN(3) resulted in the formation and isolation of the corresponding tellurenyl azides TpsiTeN(3) (4), TripTeN(3) (7), MesTeN(3) (8), 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)TeN(3) (11), and 2-Me(2)NCH(2)C(6)H(4)TeN(3) (12). Furthermore, the corresponding tris(ethyldimethylsilyl)methyl-containing (Tesi) tellurium compounds (TesiTe)(2), TesiTeI (5), and TesiTeN(3) (6) have been prepared but could not be isolated in pure form. The crystal structures of TpsiTeLi (1), (TpsiTe)(2) (2), TpsiTeN(3) (4), 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)TeI (10), 2,6-Trip(2)C(6)H(3)TeN(3) (11), and 2-Me(2)NCH(2)C(6)H(4)TeN(3) (12) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Additionally, computational studies of the molecules for which experimental structural data were available were performed.

Organotellurium(VI) azides and halides.

The reaction of azide with organotellurium(VI) halides Ph(5)TeBr and cis-(biphen)(2)TeF(2) (biphen = 2,2'-biphenyldiyl) resulted in the formation and isolation of Ph(5)TeN(3) (1) and cis-(biphen)(2)Te(N(3))(2) (2), which are the first tellurium(VI)-azide species. In addition to spectroscopic data, both crystal structures have been determined. Furthermore, the stability of possible Te(VI) species with higher azide contents Ph(x)()Te(N(3))(6)(-)(x)() and Me(x)()Te(N(3))(6)(-)(x)() as well as the syntheses and properties of their Ph/Me(x)()TeF(y)() precursors was investigated, including the crystal structure determination of trans-Ph(2)TeF(4) (3). Ab initio and density functional studies of all molecules regarding the structures and electronic populations were performed.