Reaction of 1,1-diarylethylenes with tellurium halides

Abstract

The reaction of 1,1-diarylethylenes with tellurium tetrachloride gives dimers as well as adducts containing two molecules of the ethylenes bound to TeCl₂. The u.v., i.r., n.m.r., and mass spectra of the adducts have been measured and the influence of temperature and solvent changes on the n.m.r. spectra has been studied. Several possible structures are proposed and discussed. The chlorine atoms in the adduct (Ph₂CCH₂)₂TeCl₂(IIa) can be exchanged for other halogen atoms. Various reactions of the adducts have been studied, in some of which the tellurium atom is retained in a σ-bonded bis-(2,2-diarylvinyl) telluride product while in others it is lost, yielding products derived from the 1,1-diarylethylene portion only.