Synthetic studies are motivated by the lack of information on the synthesis and reactivity of main group compounds containing the heavier elements as well as nonalkyl substituents. The objective is to gain knowledge and insights which will allow selective syntheses of a broad base of main group compounds containing elements from groups 12 to 16. Further goals are centered on the reaction chemistry of main group cage compounds. Initially, the reactivity of the substituents on the main group atoms will be characterized. Explorations of the Synthetic Utility of the Tin Telluride Bond.
Tin tellurides are potentially a useful class of compound for which reactivity studies are rare.
One possible application for tin telluride chemistry is the preparation of tellurium-based organic metals, an area that has been expanding at an increasingly rapid pace. Within the past fifteen years conducting salts based upon tetrathiafulvalene and metal dithiolene derivatives have made very important contributions to the area of one-dimensional conductors. However,while selenium-based compounds have provided several examples of conducting materials, the tellurium analogs are nearly nonexistent. The major hurdle encountered in attempts to prepare tellurium-based materials has been the preparation of appropriate organotelluride precursors. One aim of this program is to investigate new synthetic methodologies for the preparation of tetratellurafulvalene derivatives as well as arene ditellurides.