From Trimethyl Telluronium Iodide

Tetraphenyl tellurium was similarly obtained in 34% yield from triphenyl telluronium iodide and phenyl lithium1,5. Solutions of tetramethyl tellurium were prepared from trimethyl telluronium iodide and methyl lithium3. The formation of butyl triphenyl tellurium was claimed in a reaction of triphenyl telluronium iodide and butyl lithium4. Equimolar amounts of triphenyl telluronium chloride and 3,3-bis[chloromercuro]-2,4-pentadione in refluxing methanol produced 3-[chloromercuro]-2,4-dioxopent-3-yl triphenyl tellurium6. 

IHmethyl Telluronium Iodide2 250 ml of a 0.48 molar solution of methyl lithium (120 mmol) in diethyl ether are cooled under an inert atmosphere to — 70° and a solution of 7.8 g(29 mmol) of tellurium tetrachloride in 100 ml of diethyl ether is added dropwise with stirring. On completion of the addition, the mixture is allowed to warm to 20° and to stand at 20° for 30 min. It is then hydrolyzed with ice/water, and the aqueous phase is separated and added to a saturated aqueous solution of sodium iodide. Precipitated trimethyl telluronium iodide is collected and recrystallized from water yield 1.7 g (84%) sublimes between 213 and 257°... 

Trimethyl telluronium iodide and iodine combined to give purple trimethyl telluronium triiodide (m.p. 76°, from ethyl acetate)5. 

Trimethyl Telluronium Picrate1 Trimethyl telluronium iodide, prepared from 1.6 g of dimethyl tellurium diiodide, potassium sulfite, and methyl iodide, is dissolved in water and a saturated aqueous solution of picric acid is added until precipitation of the telluronium picrate ceases. The solid is filtered off, washed with cold water, and dried in air yield 0.3 g (20% based on dimethyl tellurium diiodide) m.p. 127° (dec.). 

Tellurophthalide in benzene solution was hardly affected by irradiation with 300 nm light, with phenyl magnesium bromide diphenyl ditellurium was formed. Methyl iodide removed tellurium from the heterocycle yielding trimethyl telluronium iodide. ... 

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