Synthesis, spectral and structural characterisation of ditelluroxanes: μ-oxo-bis[nitrato-; 2,4,6-trinitrophenolato-dialkyl tellurium (IV)]

The synthesis of ditelluroxanes: μ-oxo-bis[nitrato dimethyl tellurium (IV)] [(CH3)2TeNO3]2O (1), μ-oxo-bis[(2,4,6-trinitro)phenolato dimethyl tellurium (IV)] [(CH3)2TeOC6H2(NO2)3]2O (2) and μ-oxo-bis[1-(2,4,6-trinitro)phenolato-1,1,2,3,4,5-hexahydrotellurophene] [C4H8TeOC6H2(NO2)3]2O (3) was achieved. 1 was synthesised by the reaction of (CH3)2TeI2 with fuming HNO3 while 2 and 3 were synthesised by the reactions of R2Te(OH)2 [R2 = (CH3)2, (C4H8)] (in situ) with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol [ 2,4,6-(NO2)3C6H2OH] (picric acid). 1–3 have been investigated through UV/Vis; FT-IR, (1H, 13C) NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In 1–3 the immediate coordination geometry about the central tellurium atom can be described as pseudo trigonal bipyramidal and the stereochemically active electron lone pair occupying equatorial position. The supramolecular self-organisations of these tetraorgano ditelluroxanes (1–3) are explained through cooperative participation of Te⋯O secondary bonds, C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-stacking of the organic substituents.