Synthesis of Potential Tripodal Tellurium Ligands and Their Complexation with Mercury(II)

Abstract
Sodium aryltellurolate (ArTe-Na +, where Ar = 4-MeOC6H4 or 4-EtOC6H4) reacts with tris(2-chloro-ethyl)amine resulting in the potentially tripodal tellurium ligand tris(2-aryltelluroethyl)amine [N(CH2CH2TeAr)3,1]. These newly synthesized (N, Te3) ligands form HgX2.l (X = CI or Br) complexes. IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra in conjunction with molecular weight measurements suggest that 1 coordinates with mercury(II) through its two tellurium atoms and there is fast exchange between free and coordinated tellurium in solution.