A new synthetic method for diphenacyl telluride: Synthesis of some new organotellurium compounds containing ArCOCH(R) groups via α-tellurocynatoketones

A new series of organotellurocyanate containing ArCOCH(R) groups (i.e., C6H5COCH2TeCN (1), 4-BrC6H4COCH2TeCN (2), 4-PhC6H4COCH2TeCN (3) and C6H5COCH(CH3)TeCN (4)) were prepared by reacting KTeCN with the appropriate α-bromoketone in dry DMSO solution. Treatment of 1, 2, 3 and 4 with 10% NaOH afforded ditellurides 5, 6, 7 and 8 in high yields. Refluxing the ditelluride with activated copper powder in dry dioxane gave the corresponding tellurides (9, 10, 11 and 12) in good yields. Treatment of tellurides with thionyl chloride, bromine and iodine gave the dichloride (13–16), dibromide (17–20) and diiodide (21–24), respectively, in high yields. Both, tellurocyanate (1–4) and ditelluride (5–8) gave the trichloride (25–28), tribromide (29–32) and triiodide (33–36) when reacted with SOCl2, Br2 and I2, respectively. Treatment of 9–16 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA) afforded the corresponding alkyl aryl ketones in fair to good yields. All the compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic data.