The Nature of Chalcogen-Bonding-Type Tellurium–Nitrogen Interactions: A First Experimental Structure from the Gas Phase

Abstract

(C6F5)Te(CH2)3NMe2 (1), a perfluorophenyltellurium derivative capable of forming intramolecular N⋅⋅⋅Te interactions, was prepared and characterized. The donor-free reference substance (C6F5)TeMe (2) and the unsupported adduct (C6F5)(Me)Te⋅NMe2Et (2 b) were studied in parallel. Molecular structures of 1, 2 and 2 b were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and for 1 and 2 by gas-phase electron diffraction. The structure of 1 shows N⋅⋅⋅Te distances of 2.639(1) Å (solid) and 2.92(3) Å (gas). Ab initio plus NBO and QTAIM calculations show significant charge transfer effects within the N⋅⋅⋅Te interactions and indicate σ-hole interactions.