Organic tellurium compounds—VIII : Di-aryl tellurides as dehalogenation agents —the reduction of metallic salts by DI-p-tolyl telluride☆

Abstract The reaction of di- p -tolyltelluride with ferric, cupric and mercuric chloride, performed in glacial acetic acid, effects the reduction of the metallic salts giving rise to di- p -tolyltellurium dichloride. In toluene solution only the ferric chloride was reduced and the anhydride of di- p -tolyltellurium hydroxychloride formed, due to the hydrolysis of the tellurium dichloride. The reaction of the mentioned telluride and benzoyl chloride gave rise to a mixture of the dichloride and the dibenzoate. The mechanism of this reaction is discussed.