From Diorgano Ditellurium and Diazomethane

A methylene group is inserted into the Te—Te bond of dialkyl and diaryl ditelluriums when they reaet with diazomethane in diethyl ether at 0° .The aliphatic derivatives are stinky yellow liquids. 

Bis[phenyltelluro]methanc 20.0 g (49 mmol) of pure diphenyl ditcllurium are dissolved in 300 ml of diethyl ether, the solution is cooled in ice/water, and a solution of diazomethane is added dropwise to the stirred solution of diphenyl ditellurium. Nitrogen evolution should start immediately, if not, the cooling bath should be removed temporarily until the reaction starts. Addition of diazomethanc solution is stopped when the color of the reaction mixture changes suddenly from reddish-brown to yellow. A stream of nitrogen is then passed through the solution for 0.5 h to remove unreacted diazomethane. The mixture is filtered, the solvent evaporated, and the residue recrystalUzed from pentane/benzene yield 18.0 g (87%) m.p. 36°. 

Methyl lithium, butyl lithium, /ert.-butyl lithium, and phenyl lithium cleave one Te-CH2 bond in bis[phcnyltelluro]methane. However, lithium diisopropylamide lithiates the methylene group rather than breaking a Te-CHj bond.  

Similarly prepared were the following bis[phenyltelluro]alkylmethanes (alkyl given) undecyF dodecyl, tetradccyl, hexadecyl, 3-phenylpropyF. Yields and physical properties were not reported for these compounds. 

Bis[phenyltelluro]methane and bis[methyltelluro]methane reacted with elemental chlorine, bromine, and iodine to give the , T -tetrahalides  

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