Dimethyl telluride explained

Dimethyl telluride is an organotelluride compound, formula (CH₃)₂Te, also known by the abbreviation DMTe.

This was the first material used to grow epitaxial cadmium telluride and mercury cadmium telluride using metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy.^{[1] [2]}

Dimethyl telluride as a product of microbial metabolism was first discovered in 1939.^[3] It is produced by some fungi and bacteria (Penicillium brevicaule, P. chrysogenum, and P. notatum and the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens).^[4]

The toxicity of DMTe is unclear. It is produced by the body when tellurium or one of its compounds are ingested. It is noticeable by the garlic smelling breath it gives those exposed, similar to the effect of DMSO. Tellurium is known to be toxic.^[5]

References

• Liu, M. . Turner, R. J. . Winstone, T. L. . Saetre, A. . Dyllick-Brenzinger, M. . Jickling, G. . Tari, L. W. . Weiner, J. H. . Taylor, D. E. . Escherichia coli TehB Requires S-Adenosylmethionine as a Cofactor to Mediate Tellurite Resistance . Journal of Bacteriology . 2000 . 182 . 22 . 6509–6513 . 10.1128/JB.182.22.6509-6513.2000 . 11053398 . 94800 .
• Vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectra of dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl selenide, and dimethyl telluride . Scott, J. D. . Causley, G. C. . Russell, B. R. . The Journal of Chemical Physics . 59 . 12 . 6577–6586 . 1973 . 10.1063/1.1680037 . 1973JChPh..59.6577S .
• Gharieb, M. M. . Kierans, M. . Gadd, G. M. . Geoffrey Michael Gadd . Transformation and tolerance of tellurite by filamentous fungi: accumulation, reduction, and volatilization . . 1999 . 103 . 3 . 299–305 . 10.1017/S0953756298007102 .

External links

• Epichem (Commercial supplier datasheet)

Notes and References

1. Tunnicliffe, J. . Irvine, S. J. C. . Dosser, O. D. . Mullin, J. B. . A new MOVPE technique for the growth of highly uniform CMT . Journal of Crystal Growth . 1984 . 68 . 1 . 245–253 . 10.1016/0022-0248(84)90423-8 . 1984JCrGr..68..245T .
2. Singh, H. B. . Sudha, N. . Organotellurium precursors for metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) . . 1996 . 15 . 5–6 . 745–763 . 10.1016/0277-5387(95)00249-X .
3. Bird, M. L. . Challenger, F. . Formation of organometalloidal and similar compounds by microorganisms. VII. Dimethyl telluride . . 1939 . 1939 . 163–168 . 10.1039/JR9390000163.
4. Basnayake, R. S. T. . Bius, J. H. . Akpolat, O. M. . Chasteen, T. G. . Production of dimethyl telluride and elemental tellurium by bacteria amended with tellurite or tellurate . . 2001 . 15 . 6 . 499–510 . 10.1002/aoc.186 . free .
5. Chasteen, T. G. . Bentley, R. . Biomethylation of Selenium and Tellurium: Microorganisms and Plants . . 2003 . 103 . 1 . 1–26 . 10.1021/cr010210+ . 12517179 .