Aryltelluroacetic Acids-Synthesis and Ligation with Mercury(II)

Abstract
Sodium aryltellurolates (ArTeNa +, where Ar = C6H5, 4-MeOC6H4 or 4-EtOC6H4) react with chloro-acetic acid resulting in aryltelluroacetic acids or aryl carboxymethyl tellurides (ArTeCH2 COOOH, 1) which have been characterized by molecular weight measurements, elemental analyses, IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Mercury(II) chloride forms with I a complex HgCl(OOCCH2TeAr), in which the (Te,0) ligand has been demonstrated to behave as an uninegative bidentate donor by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Presuming tetrahedral stereochemistry for mercury(II), a dimeric formulation having two bridging chloro groups seems to be most plausible. The bridges, however appear to be weak in DMSO.