Reactions of Naphthyl Tellurium Trihalides with Some Dithiocarbamates and Xanthates: X-Ray Structure of “T-Shaped” Naphthyl Tellurium 1-Pyrrolidinecarbodithioate

Abstract

The reaction of naphthyl tellurium trihalides, ArTeX₃ (X = Br, Cl; Ar = naphthyl) with several salts of dithiocarbamate and xanthate ligands (L) have been investigated by metathesis in tetrahydrofuran. The products (1–3) were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Crystals of ArTeL (L = 1-pyrrolidine-carbodithioate, 1) were obtained from the reaction of ArTeCl₃ and 3 equivalents of NH₄[S₂CNC₄H₈]. The structure shows a three-coordinate T-shaped tellurium(II) geometry with one “short” and one “long” Te-S bond: the two independent molecules in the unit cell have Te-S distances of 2.444(3) Å, 2.494(3) Å and 3.271(5) Å, 3.042(5) Å respectively, the latter two distances being intermolecular. The intermolecular interactions and the NMR spectra are discussed, together with a structural comparison of related Te(II) complexes.

Keywords:

• Coordination
• dithiocarbamate
• tellurium
• X-ray structure

Acknowledgments

M.D.R. would like to thank the Professional Development Committee at the University of Wisconsin–Fox Valley for generous funding of this undergraduate research and for travel funds. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Jerry Lokensgard (Lawrence University, Appleton) for assistance with the NMR spectra.