THE OXIDATION OF DIPHENYL DITELLURIDE BY SUBSTITUTED ORTHOBENZOQUINONES, AND THE MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF [(CL4C6O2)TEC6H5](2)O

The reaction between tetrahalogeno-ortho-benzoquinones (X(4)C(6)O(2)-0; X = Cl, Br) and diphenyl ditelluride gives the unusual tellurium(IV) derivatives [(X(4)C(6)O(2))TeC6H5]O-2. Crystallographic studies show that tellurium is coordinated by a substituted catecholate, a phenyl group, and a bridging oxygen. The mechanism of the reaction probably involves initial formation of a semiquinone-tellurium-phenyl species, since ESR spectroscopy identifies the presence of o-semiquinone radicals. A similar reaction was observed with (C6H5)(2)Te-2 and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-ortho-benzoquinone.