With Cleavage of Two Te —C Bonds

Tetraorgano tellurium compounds are thermally decomposed to diorgano tellurium compounds and hydrocarbons . Whereas tetramethyl tellurium, tetrabutyl tellurium, and diaryl dialkyl tellurium compounds already form diorgano tellurium compounds by loss of alkyl groups at or below 20° tetraphenyl tellurium tetrakis[pentafluoro-phenyl] telluriumtetrakis[4-methylphenyl] tellurium , and bis[2,2 -biphenyldiyl] tellurium must be heated to at least 100° to effect decomposition. 

Tetramethyl tellurium was found to be stable at 25° in the dark under an inert atmosphere, but decomposed on exposure to intense visible light. At temperatures above 100° dimethyl tellurium, methane, and ethane were formed . 

The decomposition of mixtures of two tetraaryl tellurium compounds produced three diaryl tellurium and three biaryl compounds .  

The decomposition of tetraaryl tellurium compounds is postulated to occur via a concerted and not a radical pathway. Exchange of aryl groups in mixtures of tetraaryl tellurium compounds precedes the decomposition step  

Tetrakis[trifluoromethyl] tellurium in cyclohexane formed bis[trifluoromethyl] tellurium, bis[trifluoromethyl] tellurium difluoride, 2-trifluoromethylcyclohexyl trifluoromethyl tellurium, 1,2-bis[trifluoromethyl]cyclohexane, and 7,7-difluoronorcarane . 

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