Generation and detection of tellurane [10–Te–4(C4)] and selenurane [10–Se–4(C4)] having alkyl and aryl ligands

Formation of 2,2′-biphenylylenedimethylselenurane and -tellurane was observed by the 1H, 13C, 77Se, and 125Te NMR studies at low temperature, in the reactions of dibenzoselenophene Se-oxide and 2,2′-biphenylylenedibromotellurane with methyllithium. These hypervalent compounds were unstable and decomposed at room temperature to give the corresponding dibenzochalcogenophenes quantitatively.