Tellurium tetrachloride

Tellurium tetrachloride

Names
IUPAC names Tellurium(IV) chloride Tetratellurium hexadecachloride
Other names Tellurium chloride
Identifiers
CAS Number	10026-07-0 N
ChemSpider	55367 Y
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
PubChem	61443
InChI InChI=1S/Cl4Te/c1-5(2,3)4 Y Key: SWLJJEFSPJCUBD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/Cl4Te/c1-5(2,3)4 Key: SWLJJEFSPJCUBD-UHFFFAOYAL
SMILES Cl[Te](Cl)(Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula	[TeCl4]4
Molar mass	1077.64 g/mol
Appearance	hygroscopic pale yellow solid (if fused, maroon liquid)
Density	3.26 g/cm3, solid
Melting point	224 °C (435 °F; 497 K)
Boiling point	380 °C (716 °F; 653 K)
Structure
Crystal structure	Monoclinic, mS80
Space group	C12/c1, No. 15
Coordination geometry	Distorted octahedral (Te)
Molecular shape	Seesaw (gas phase)
Dipole moment	2.59 D (gas phase)
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Related compounds
Other anions	Tellurium tetrafluoride Tellurium tetrabromide Tellurium tetraiodide
Other cations	Selenium tetrachloride Polonium tetrachloride
Related compounds	Tellurium dichloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Tellurium tetrachloride is the inorganic compound with the empirical formula TeCl₄. The compound is volatile, subliming at 200 °C at 0.1 mm Hg. Molten TeCl₄ is ionic, dissociating into ions TeCl₃⁺ and Te₂Cl₁₀²⁻.

Structure

TeCl₄ is monomeric in the gas phase, with a structure similar to that of SF₄. In the solid state, it is a tetrameric cluster, Te₄Cl₁₆. The cluster with a Te₄Cl₄ core and three terminal chloride ligands for each Te. Alternatively it can be considered as a Te₄ tetrahedron with face-capping chlorines and three terminal chlorines per tellurium atom, giving each tellurium atom a distorted octahedral environment

150px 200px

Synthesis

TeCl₄ is prepared by chlorination of tellurium powder:

Te + 2 Cl₂ → TeCl₄

The reaction is initiated with heat. The product is isolated by distillation.

Applications

TeCl₄ has proven of occasional interest in organic synthesis. It adds to alkenes to give Cl-C-C-TeCl₃ derivatives, wherein the Te can be subsequently removed with sodium sulfide. Electron-rich arenes react to give aryl Te compounds. Thus anisole give TeCl₂(C₆H₄OMe)₂, which can be reduced to the diaryl telluride.

Safety considerations

As is the case for other tellurium compounds, TeCl₄ is toxic. It also releases HCl upon hydrolysis.