Synthesis of Dicationic Telluranes by Remote Oxidation through a π-Conjugated System

Abstract

Concerted electron donation from the Te atom through a π-conjugated system to the sulfinyl group facilitates the conversion of the tellurides 1 and 2 to the dicationic telluranes 3 and 4, respectively, in which the sulfinyl groups are reduced to methylsulfanyl groups. Analogues of 1 and 2 without a conjugated π system give complex mixtures of products under the same conditions.