Mechanism of thermal decomposition of tetra-aryltellurium species

Abstract

Tetra-aryltellurium species decompose upon heating giving good yields of diaryl tellurides and biphenyls. Radical-scavenging experiments show that phenyl radicals are not intermediates in the formation of biphenyls. In contrast, cross-over experiments give mixed biphenyls as well as mixed diaryl tellurides, but these are formed by a statistical redistribution of organic groups giving mixed tetra-aryltellurium species which decompose thermally in an indiscrimate fashion.