Organo Tellurium Trihydroxides

The existence of aryl tellurium trihydroxides as intermediates in the hydrolysis of 4-methoxyphenyl tellurium trichlorides was postulated . The hydrolysis of 4-methoxyphenyl tellurium trichloride with 2 M aqueous sodium hydroxide followed by acidification of the resulting solution precipitated a white amorphous powder with no definite melting point. C,H-analyses produced values close to those required for 4-methoxyphenyl tellurium trihydroxide. 

No additional information is available on organo tellurium trihydroxides. 

Sodium alkoxides or phenoxides reacted with phenyl tellurium trichloride producing aryl tellurium trialkoxides or triphenoxides in yields of approximately 70%.  

2-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and the enol of dibenzoylmethane served as the alcohols. 

Phenyl Tellurium TWs[2-formylphenoxide] Sodium 2-formylphenoxide is prepared by reacting 4.88 g (40 mmol) of 2-formylphenol with 0.92 g (40 mmol) of sodium in 20 ml of methanol. The phenoxide is suspended in 50 ml of benzene under nitrogen, a solution of 3.11 g (10 mmol) of phenyl tellurium trichloride in 50 ml of benzene is added, the mixture is heated under reflux for 2 h, cooled, and centrifuged to separate the solids. The liquid is decanted, the residue is extracted with benzene, and the eombined extracts are concentrated at 40 - 50° under reduced pressure until crystals appear. The mixture is cooled, filtered, the solid washed with dry hexane, and the yellow crystals are dried under vacuum yield 4.3 g (75%) m.p. 156°. Similarly prepared were  

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