Synthesis and characterization of the first aryltellurium(II) halide complex stabilized by a Te–Te bond from a tellurium ether

(MesTe)2 reacts with equivalent amounts of iodine to produce a crystalline powder. Attempts to crystallize mesityltellurenyl monoiodide (MesTeI) were unsuccessful and we always obtained Mes(I)Te(TeMes2) from the recrystallization of the crude solid. The structure of the new organotellurium(II) halide has been studied by means of single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The three-centre system Te2–Te1–I1 is approximately linear, suggesting the occurrence of a charge transfer complex. The geometry about the Te1 atom is a distorted T-shape, indicating the presence of a stereochemically active lone pair.