The structure of the tetrachlorohydroxotellurate(IV) anion in KTeCl4(OH)•0.5H2O and KTeCl4(OH)

Three compounds containing the tetrachlorohydroxotellurate(IV) anion, K[TeCl4(OH)]•0.5H2O, and K[TeCl4(OH)], have been prepared. The crystal structure of K[TeCl4(OH)]•0.5H2O has been determined. The structure contains isolated square pyramidal TeCl4(OH)− anions with OH axial. Vibrational spectroscopy shows that and K[TeCl4(OH)]•0.5H2O both contain isolated anions but that, in K[TeCl4(OH)], the anion is polymerized with chloride bridging. The hydroxo group, like the fluoro group, acts to hinder coordination at the site trans to it on Te(IV). Key words: tellurium(IV) complexes, chlorotellurate(IV), X-ray structure, vibrational spectroscopy.