Csp3-tellurium copper cross-coupling: synthesis of alkynyl tellurides a novel class of antidepressive-like compounds

We present here the results on the synthesis of functionalized alkynyl tellurides using the reaction of vinyl, alkynyl, and aryl tellurides with several alkynyl iodides catalyzed by copper iodide. The reaction proceeded cleanly under mild reaction conditions, at room temperature, in the absence of base and ligand giving alkynyl tellurides in acceptable yields. The obtained compounds 3a–c and 3m–o were screened for antidepressive-like activity using the tail suspension test (TST) in mice. Compounds 3a–c and 3m–o administered at 10 mg/kg by oral route produced a significant antidepressant-like effect on the TST in mice.