Lithium halide adducts of imidotellurium(IV) ligands:: Synthesis and X-ray structures of [Li(THF)2L](μ3-I)[LiI(L)] [L = tBuNTe(μ-NtBu)2TeNtBu] and [(THF)3Li3(μ3-I){Te(NtBu)3}]

The reaction of the chelating ligand (BuNTe)-Bu-t(mu -(NBu)-Bu-t)(2)(TeNBu)-Bu-t (L) with LiI in THF yields [Li(THF)(2)L]](mu (3)-I)[LiI(L)] (3). This complex is also formed by the attempted oxidation of [Li2Te((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)](2) with I-2. An X-ray analysis of 3 reveals that the tellurium diimide dimer acts as a chelating ligand toward (a) [Li(THF)(2)](+) cations and (b) a molecule of LiI. An extended structure is formed via weak Te . . .I interactions [3.8296(7)-3.9632(7) Angstrom] involving both mu (3)-iodide counterions and the iodine atoms of the coordinated LiI molecules. Crystal data: 3, triclinic, space group P (1) over bar, a = 10.1233(9) Angstrom, b = 15.7234(14) Angstrom, 18.8962(17) Angstrom, alpha = 86.1567(16)degrees, beta = 84.3266(16)degrees, gamma = 82.9461(16)degrees, V = 2965.8(5) Angstrom (3), Z = 2. The oxidation by air of [Li2Te((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)](2) in toluene produces the radical {Li-3[Te((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)](2)}(.), which exhibits an ESR spectrum consisting of a septet of decuplets (g = 2.00506, a(N-14) = 5.26 G, a(Li-7) = 0.69 G). The complexes [(THF)(3)Li-3(mu (3)-X)(Te((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)}] (4a, X = Cl; 4b, X = Br; 4c, X = I) are obtained from the reaction of [Li2Te((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)](2) with lithium halides in THF. The iodide complex, 4c, has a highly distorted, cubic structure comprised of the pyramidal [Te((NBu)-Bu-t)(3)](2-) dianion which is linked through three [Li(THF)](+) cations to I-. Crystal data: 4c, triclinic, space group P (1) over bar. a = 12.611(8) Angstrom, b = 16.295(6) Angstrom, c = 10.180(3) Angstrom, alpha = 98.35(3)degrees, beta = 107.37(4)degrees, gamma = 108.26(4)degrees, V = 1829(2) Angstrom (3), Z = 2.