The use of alkoxotellurium(VI) fluorides as alkylating agents

Abstract

Methoxotellurium(VI) pentafluoride, TeF₅OMe, has been shown to be a more powerful methylating agent than SO₂(OMe)₂ but weaker than FSO₂(OMe). Alkylation reactions involving the alkoxotellurium(VI) fluorides TeF_6–x(OR)_x, x= 1, 2, with pyridine, NN-dimethylformamide, and potassium phthalimide to yield (C₅H₅NR)⁺-(TeOF₅)^–, [HC(OR)NMe₂]⁺(TeOF₅)^–, and N-alkylphthalimides, respectively, are described.