With Elimination of Two Tellurium Atoms

Strong oxidizing agents such as concentrated nitric acid eliminate both tellurium atoms from the diaryl ditellurium with concomitant nitration of the aromatic ring Rather unstable ditellurium derivatives such as dibenzyl ditellurium already lose both tellurium atoms upon irradiation with a mercury lamp or under normal light.  

Diaryl ditellurium compounds are detellurated when refluxed in bis[methoxyethyl] ether over degassed Raney nickel. The aryl groups are coupled to form biaryls in yields ranging from 50 to 80%. Bis[3-methyl-4-methoxyphenyl] ditellurium reacted similarly  

However, bis[3-benzoyloxy-2-phenylaminopropyl] ditellurium and Raney nickel in refluxing ethanol produced 3-benzoyloxy-2-phenylaminopropane and not the coupled compound.  

Bis[4-methoxyphenyl] ditellurium was converted 4,4 -dimethoxybiphenyl in 82% yield by heating the ditellurium with an equimolar amount of Pd(0) [from palladium(II) acetate and triethylamine] in hexamethylphosphoric triamide at 65° for seven hours under an atmosphere of argon . 

Whereas diaryl ditellurium compounds and copper powder in refluxing dioxane yielded diaryl tellurium derivatives (p. 419), bis[3-chloro-2-acyloxypropyl] ditellurium compounds lost both tellurium atoms under these conditions. The tellurium-free products were propenes. During the reaction the acyloxy group migrated to take the place of the chlorine 

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