Tellurium tetrachloride

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Tellurium tetrachloride
Image:Tellurium tetrachloride.jpg
General
Systematic name	Tellurium(IV) chloride Tetratellurium hexadecachloride
Other names	Tellurium chloride
Molecular formula	[TeCl₄]₄
Molar mass	1077.64 g/mol
Appearance	hygroscopic pale yellow solid (if fused, maroon liquid)
CAS number	[10026-07-0]
Properties
Density and phase	3.26 g/cm³, solid
Solubility in water	? g/100 ml (?°C)
Melting point	224 °C
Boiling point	380 °C
Structure
Molecular shape	Tetrahedral
Coordination geometry	Distorted octahedral (Te)
Crystal structure	?
Dipole moment	zero
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	Highly toxic, corrosive, respiratory irritant
NFPA 704
Flash point	? °C
RTECS number	?
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, ε_r, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Other anions	Tellurium tetrafluoride Tellurium tetrabromide Tellurium tetraiodide
Other cations	Selenium tetrachloride Polonium tetrachloride
Related compounds	Tellurium dichloride
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25°C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Tellurium tetrachloride is a covalent compound of tellurium and chlorine that is somewhat volatile, subliming at 200 °C at 0.1 mmHg. It exists as the tetramer in the solid state, a Te₄ tetrahedron with face-capping chlorines and three terminal chlorines per tellurium atom. It forms dimers and monomers in the liquid and gas. Presumably, the monomer adopts the structure of SF₄.

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 TeC₂(C₆H₄OMe)₂ which can be reduced to the diaryl telluride.