The electrochemical oxidation of 3,4-benzo-1-telluracyclopentane

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of 3,4-benzo-1-telluracyclopentane in the presence of tetrabutylammonium salts affords the following deeply coloured salts: {(C 8H 8Te)}PF 6, {(C 8H 8Te)}(I 3), (C 8H 8Te)BF 4·HBF 4. An unstable perchlorate, assumed to be {(C 8H 8Te)}ClO 4, is also described. The IR, ESR and mass spectra of the compounds are discussed. It is concluded that the solids are salt like, but the failure to observe ESR signals may imply a diamagnetic ground state, e.g. involving dimerisation of radical cations. Formally the new compounds are derivatives of tellurium(III).