Synthesis, molecular structures, Mössbauer and electrochemical investigation of ferrocenyltelluride derivatives: (Fc2Te2)Fe(CO)3I2 [(CO)3IFe(μ-TeFc)]2, CpFe(CO)2TeFc, CpFe(CO)2TeX2Fc (X = Br, I) and CpFe(CO)2(μ-TeFc)Fe(CO)3I2

•Treatment of [FcTeI] with Fe(CO)5 can gives (Fc2Te2)Fe(CO)3I2 or [(CO)3IFe(μ-TeFc)]2.•Substitution of the Fc by the Ph does not change the chemical properties of the organometallic tellurates.•Fc group in CpFe(CO)2TeFc undergoes a quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation at 0.24 V.•Te center in CpFe(CO)2TeFc can be easily halogenated the by elemental bromine and iodine.•CpFe(CO)2TeFc substitutes one carbonyl in Fe(CO)4I2 to give CpFe(CO)2(μ-TeFc)Fe(CO)3I2.

Depending on the ratio of the starting reagents, the interaction of [FcTeI] with Fe(CO)5 gave complex (Fc2Te2)Fe(CO)3I2 (1) bearing an Fc2Te2 ligand, or a dimeric complex [(CO)3IFe(μ-TeFc)]2 (2). An interaction of equimolar amounts of [CpFe(CO)2]2 and Fc2Te2 under the thermal conditions in toluene afforded CpFe(CO)2TeFc (3). Complex 3 can be easily halogenated at the Te center by elemental bromine and iodine to give monomeric CpFe(CO)2TeX2Fc (X = Br (4), I (5)). Complex 5 can be prepared alternatively via formal insertion of [FcTeI] into Fc–I bond of CpFe(CO)2I. Complex 3 readily substitutes one carbonyl in Fe(CO)4I2 to give the adduct CpFe(CO)2(μ-TeFc)Fe(CO)3I2 (6).

Graphical abstractDepending on the reagents ratio, the interaction of [FcTeI] with Fe(CO)5 gave (Fc2Te2)Fe(CO)3I2, or a dimeric [(CO)3IFe(μ-TeFc)]2. CpFe(CO)2TeFc readily substitutes one carbonyl in Fe(CO)4I2 to give CpFe(CO)2(μ-TeFc)Fe(CO)3I2 or can be easily halogenated at the Te center by elemental bromine or iodine to give monomeric CpFe(CO)2TeX2Fc (X = Br, I).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide