Spectroscopic and structural studies on polyfluorophenyl tellurides and tellurium(IV) dihalides

Solid-state molecular structures of Se(IV) and Te(IV) dihalides X2Se(CH3)(C6F5) and the gas-phase structure of Se(CH3)(C6F5)

In a systematic study the Se(IV) and Te(IV) dihalides F2E(CH3)(C6F5), Cl2E(CH3)(C6F5) and Br2E(CH3)(C6F5) (E = Se, Te) have been synthesized and their crystal and molecular structures been investigated by X-ray diffraction and computational methods. The solid-state structures of all compounds show significant correlations between the lengths of the E–C1 bond and the intermolecular E···X (X = F, Cl and Br) contacts, indicating the presence of σ-hole interactions. For comparison, the crystal and gas phase (electron diffraction) structures of Se(CH3)(C6F5) are presented as well. They show very similar structural parameters in both phases. The structures of the single molecules X2E(CH3)(C6F5) have been analyzed by quantum-chemical methods in terms of their surface potentials. They show significant similarities of their molecular electrostatic-potential topologies (V s,max). The magnitude of V s,max correlates with the aggregation pattern.

Heterovalent chalcogen bonding: supramolecular assembly driven by the occurrence of a tellurium(ii)⋯Ch(i) (Ch = S, Se, Te) linkage

The revealed heterovalent TeII⋯ChI (Ch = S, Se, Te) chalcogen bonding was used for targeted noncovalent integration of two Ch centers in different oxidation states.

The Nature of Chalcogen-Bonding-Type Tellurium-Nitrogen Interactions: A First Experimental Structure from the Gas Phase

(C₆ F₅ )Te(CH₂ )₃ NMe₂ (1), a perfluorophenyltellurium derivative capable of forming intramolecular N⋅⋅⋅Te interactions, was prepared and characterized. The donor-free reference substance (C₆ F₅ )TeMe (2) and the unsupported adduct (C₆ F₅ )(Me)Te⋅NMe₂ Et (2 b) were studied in parallel. Molecular structures of 1, 2 and 2 b were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and for 1 and 2 by gas-phase electron diffraction. The structure of 1 shows N⋅⋅⋅Te distances of 2.639(1) Å (solid) and 2.92(3) Å (gas). Ab initio plus NBO and QTAIM calculations show significant charge transfer effects within the N⋅⋅⋅Te interactions and indicate σ-hole interactions.

Redox-controlled chalcogen-bonding at tellurium: impact on Lewis acidity and chloride anion transport properties

Our interests in the chemistry of atypical main group Lewis acids have led us to devise strategies that augment the affinity of chalcogen-bond donors for anionic guests. In this study, we describe the oxidative methylation of diaryltellurides as one such strategy along with its application to the synthesis of [Mes(C₆F₅)TeMe]⁺ and [(C₆F₅)₂TeMe]⁺ starting from Mes(C₆F₅)Te and (C₆F₅)₂Te, respectively. These new telluronium cations have been evaluated for their ability to complex and transport chloride anions across phospholipid bilayers. These studies show that, when compared to their neutral Te(ii) precursors, these Te(iv) cations display both higher Lewis acidity and transport activity. The positive attributes of these telluronium cations, which originate from a lowering of the tellurium-centered σ* orbitals and a deepening of the associated σ-holes, demonstrate that the redox state of the main group element provides a convenient handle over its chalcogen-bonding properties.

The oxidative alkylation of diorganotellurides enhances the chalcogen-bond donor properties of the tellurium center, an effect manifested in the enhanced chloride anion affinity and transport properties of the resulting telluronium cations.

1,1-Carboboration to tellurium–boron intramolecular frustrated Lewis pairs

The tellurium acetylide Ph(CH₂)₂TeCCPh reacts with boranesvia1,1-carboboration to give a series of borylated vinyl telluroethers.

Studies on the properties of organoselenium(IV) fluorides and azides

The reaction of organoselenides and -diselenides (R2Se and (RSe)2) with XeF2 furnished the corresponding organoselenium(IV) difluorides R2SeF2 (R=Me (1), Et (2), iPr (3), Ph (4), Mes (=2,4,6-(Me)3C6H2) (5), Tipp (=2,4,6-(iPr)3C6H2) (6), 2-Me 2NCH2C6H4 (7)), and trifluorides RSeF3 (R=Me (8), iPr (9), Ph (10), Mes (11), Tipp (12), Mes* (=2,4,6-(tBu) 3C6H2) (13), 2-Me2NCH2C6H4 (14)), respectively. In addition to characterization by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, the first molecular structure of an organoselenium(IV) difluoride as well as the molecular structures of subsequent decomposition products have been determined. The substitution of fluorine atoms with Me3SiN3 leads to the corresponding organoselenium(IV) diazides R2Se(N3)2 (R=Me (15), Et (16), iPr (17), Ph (18), Mes (19), 2-Me 2NCH2C6H4 (20)) and triazides RSe(N3)3 (R=Me (21), iPr (22), Ph (23), Mes (24), Tipp (25), Mes* (26), 2-Me2NCH2C6H4 (27)), respectively. The organoselenium azides are extremely temperature-sensitive materials and can only be handled at low temperatures.

The nature of the chemical bond in linear three-body systems: from i3- to mixed chalcogen/halogen and trichalcogen moieties

The 3 centre-4 electrons (3c-4e) and the donor/acceptor or charge-transfer models for the description of the chemical bond in linear three-body systems, such as I(3) (-) and related electron-rich (22 shell electrons) systems, are comparatively discussed on the grounds of structural data from a search of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Both models account for a total bond order of 1 in these systems, and while the former fits better symmetric systems, the latter describes better strongly asymmetric situations. The 3c-4e MO scheme shows that any linear system formed by three aligned closed-shell species (24 shell electrons overall) has reason to exist provided that two electrons are removed from it to afford a 22 shell electrons three-body system: all combinations of three closed-shell halides and/or chalcogenides are considered here. A survey of the literature shows that most of these three-body systems exist. With some exceptions, their structural features vary continuously from the symmetric situation showing two equal bonds to very asymmetric situations in which one bond approaches to the value corresponding to a single bond and the second one to the sum of the van der Waals radii of the involved atoms. This indicates that the potential energy surface of these three-body systems is fairly flat, and that the chemical surrounding of the chalcogen/halogen atoms can play an important role in freezing different structural situations; this is well documented for the I(3) (-) anion. The existence of correlations between the two bond distances and more importantly the linearity observed for all these systems, independently on the degree of their asymmetry, support the state of hypervalency of the central atom.

Reactions of Ph4Se4Br4 with tertiary phosphines. Structural isomerism within a series of R3PSe(Ph)Br compounds

The synthesis and characterisation of Ph(4)Se(4)Br(4) (1) directly from the reaction of Ph(2)Se(2) with dibromine is reported. The solid-state structure of 1 consists of four PhSeBr units linked by weak selenium-selenium bonds [3.004(2)-3.051(2) A] into a Se(4) square, and is structurally analogous to the previously reported Ph(4)Te(4)I(4). The reactions of Ph(4)Se(4)Br(4) with a variety of tertiary phosphines have been undertaken, resulting in the formation of compounds of formula R(3)PSe(Ph)Br. X-Ray crystallographic analysis of three of the compounds reveals different structural isomers. Ph(3)PSe(Ph)Br (2) is a charge-transfer (CT) compound [Se-Br 3.0020(8) A], with an essentially linear P-Se-Br bond angle, 172.15(4) degrees and T-shaped geometry at selenium. Me(3)PSe(Ph)Br (5) also contains the selenium atom in a T-shaped geometry, consistent with a CT formulation, although the Se-Br distance of 3.327(3) A is considerably longer than observed for 2. In contrast, Cy(3)PSe(Ph)Br (6) is an ionic phosphonium salt, [Cy(3)PSePh]Br with no short Se-Br interactions. Geometry at selenium is bent, as expected for an ionic compound. These results are discussed with reference to the previously reported iodo-compounds Ph(3)PSe(Ph)I and [(Me(2)N)(3)PSe(Ph)]I.

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.

Novel organotellurium(IV) diazides and triazides

New series dialkyltellurium(IV) diazides R(2)Te(N(3))(2) (R = CH(3) (6), C(2)H(5) (7), n-C(3)H(7) (8), i-C(3)H(7) (9), c-C(6)H(11) (10)) and alkyl/aryltellurium(IV) triazides R'Te(N(3))(3) (R' = CH(3) (11), C(2)H(5) (12), n-C(3)H(7) (13), i-C(3)H(7) (14), C(6)H(5) (15), 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2) (16)) were synthesized by the straightforward substitution of fluorine atoms in the corresponding tellurium difluorides, or trifluorides respectively, with trimethylsilyl azide. In addition to standard characterization methods, the first crystal structures of covalent organotellurium(IV) triazides 12, 13, 14, and 16 have been determined. Ethyltellurium(IV) triazide, C(2)H(5)Te(N(3))(3) (12), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, a = 8.4530(2) A, b = 7.9094(2) A, c = 12.6288(3) A, beta = 91.876(1). n-Propyltellurium(IV) triazide, n-C(3)H(7)Te(N(3))(3) (13), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n as well, a = 8.7999(2) A, b = 7.9674(2) A, c = 13.2334(3) A, beta = 94.626(1). Isopropyltellurium(IV) triazide, i-C(3)H(7)Te(N(3))(3) (14), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, a = 20.058(2) A, b = 6.9620(3) A, c = 15.030(1) A, beta = 114.260(9). Mesityltellurium(IV) triazide, 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2)Te(N(3))(3) (16), crystallizes monoclinic as well; the space group is P2(1)/c, a = 7.5503(6) A, b = 23.581(1) A, c = 7.5094(6) A, beta = 91.295(9). The structures and vibrational frequencies of the methyl derivatives dimethyltellurium(IV) diazide (6) and methyltellurium(IV) triazide (11) have been calculated by density functional theory methods and were compared with the experimental metric parameters and vibrational data.