Polyazide Chemistry: Preparation and Characterization of Te(N₃)₄ and [P(C₆H₅)₄]₂[Te(N₃)₆] and Evidence for [N(CH₃)₄][Te(N₃)₅]

Abstract

Highly explosive Te(N3)4 was prepared by the fluoride-ion-catalyzed reaction of TeF6 and Me3SiN3, and converted to the more stable [P(C6H5)4]2[Te(N3)6] salt by reaction with [P(C6H5)4]N3. The sterically active free valence-electron pair at the Te center strongly distorts the structure of the [Te(N3)6]2− ion from the predicted ideal S6 symmetry (see picture). Evidence for the formation of the [Te(N3)5]− ion is also presented.