Bis(2-{1,3-dioxan-2-yl}ethyl) telluride (L): synthesis and ligation with Pd(II) and Ru(II). Crystal structures of [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2L] and trans-[PdCl2(L)2]

Sodium telluride (Na2Te), obtained in situ by borohydride reduction of elemental tellurium, reacts with 2-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3-dioxane resulting in bis(2-{1,3-dioxan-2-yl}ethyl) telluride (L), which is isolated as an unstable viscous liquid. The potentially (Te,O2) type of ligand L is stabilized on the formation of complexes [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2L] (1) and trans-[PdCl2(L)2] (2) which are characterized structurally. The Ru–Te bond length in the half sandwich compound 1 is 2.6559(9) Å. The geometry of Pd in 2 is square planar. The Pd–Te bond length in 2 is 2.5873(2) Å. 1 and 2 are the first examples of structurally characterized complexes in which potentially (Te,O2) type ligand molecules are present, of course coordinating through Te only.