Tellurasiloxane cages containing Te₆Si₄O₁₂ and Te₆Si₆O₁₅ frameworks

Abstract

Reaction of the silanetriol t-BuSi(OH)₃ with (p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂TeO in a 4:6 ratio resulted in the formation of [((p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂Te)₆(t-BuSiO₃)₄]·1.5 C₇H₈ (1·1.5C₇H₈). In contrast, the reaction of tetrahydroxy-1,3-disiloxane, [t-BuSi(OH)₂]₂O with (p-MeOC₆H₄)₂TeO in a 3:6 ratio afforded [((p-MeOC₆H₄)₂Te)₆(t-BuSi)₆O₁₅] · 2 C₇H₈ (2·2C₇H₈). 1 possesses a tetrahedron cage structure in which the vertices of the tetrahedron are occupied by silicon atoms. Each pair of silicon atoms is connected to each other by a R₂TeO₂ motif. The six O-Te-O bridges occupy the edges of the tetrahedron. In contrast to 1, the structure of 2 can be described as a trigonal prismatic cage. The latter consists of two Te₃Si₃O₆ rings that are interconnected to each other through three Si-O-Si linkages. The structure of 2 is reminiscent of a double-six-ring (D6R) secondary building unit (SBU) framework found in zeolites such as faujasite. Reaction of (p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂TeO or (p-MeOC₆H₄)₂TeO with the disiloxane-1,3-diol, [Ph₂Si(OH)]₂O in a 2:2 ratio afforded [((p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₂Te)(OPh₂Si-O-SiPh₂O)]₂ (3) and [((p-MeOC₆H₄)₂Te)(OPh₂Si-O-SiPh₂O)]₂·CH₃CN (4·CH₃CN). In contrast to 1 and 2, the compounds 3 and 4 contain puckered 12-membered Te₂Si₄O₆ rings.