2-Thiophenyltellurium derivatives: Alternative synthetic routes and structural characterization

► Bis(2-thiophenyl)ditelluride, Tpn2Te2 (1) may be obtained from Te powder and TpnMgBr. ► Compound 1 has been employed to prepare Tpn2Te, TpnArTeCl2, Tpn2TeX2 and little known TpnTeX3. ► δ(13C, 125Te) of all and X-ray data of Tpn2TeBr2, Tpn2TeI2, TpnMesTeCl2 are discussed. ► Electronic and steric factors seem to affect the molecular geometry in solid state. ► Isomorphous Tpn2TeX2 (X = Br, I) show tetrameric supramolecular cubane-like framework.