Highly efficient regioselective synthesis of organotellurium compounds based on the reactions of tellurium tetrachloride with 1-alkenes

Efficient regioselective syntheses of trichloro-(2-chloroalkyl)-lambda(4)-tellanes, trichloro-(2-alkoxyalkyl)-lambda(4)-tellanes, bis-(2-alkoxyalkyl)ditellanes and dichlorobis-(2-chloroalkyl)-lambda(4)-tellanes in quantitative yields were developed based on tellurium tetrachloride and 1-alkenes (1-hexene and 1-heptene). Favorable conditions for selective preparation of both mono- and bis-adducts of tellurium tetrachloride with 1-alkenes were established. Methoxytelluration was accomplished by the reaction of tellurium tetrachloride with 1-alkenes in CH2Cl2/MeOH at room temperature. Ethoxytelluration was carried out in CH2Cl2/EtOH at reflux. Trichloro-(2-alkoxyalkyl)-lambda(4)-tellanes were also obtained by nucleophilic substitution of chlorine atom in trichloro-(2-chloroalkyl)-lambda(4)-tellanes with alcohols under unusually mild conditions.