Bis(alkylidynyl)tellurides and ditellurides

Abstract

The tellurocarbonylates [M(CTe)(CO)₂(Tp*)]⁻ (M = Mo, W; obtained from [M(CBr)(CO)₂(Tp*)] and Li₂Te or [M(CLi)(CO)₂(Tp*)] and Te) react with an additional equivalent of [M(CBr)(CO)₂(Tp*)] to give bis(alkylidynyl)tellurides, [M₂(μ-CTeC)(CO)₄(Tp*)₂], whilst oxidation with [Fe(η-C₅H₅)₂]PF₆ affords the corresponding ditellurides [M₂(μ-CTe₂C)(CO)₄(Tp*)₂]. The unprecedented MCTeCM and MCTe₂CM bridges are discussed with reference to more conventional but rare alkylidynyltelluroethers [M(CTeR)(CO)₂(Tp*)] (R = Me, ⁿBu, Ph).