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.[2][3]

Dimethyl telluride as a product of microbial metabolism was first discovered in 1939.[4] It is produced by some fungi and bacteria (Penicillium brevicaule, P. chrysogenum, and P. notatum and the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens).[5]

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.[6]

References

  1. ^ "dimethyl telluride (CHEBI:4613)". Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI). UK: European Bioinformatics Institute. 25 September 2006. IUPAC Names. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  2. ^ Tunnicliffe, J.; Irvine, S. J. C.; Dosser, O. D.; Mullin, J. B. (1984). "A new MOVPE technique for the growth of highly uniform CMT". Journal of Crystal Growth. 68 (1): 245–253. Bibcode:1984JCrGr..68..245T. doi:10.1016/0022-0248(84)90423-8.
  3. ^ Singh, H. B.; Sudha, N. (1996). "Organotellurium precursors for metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT)". Polyhedron. 15 (5–6): 745–763. doi:10.1016/0277-5387(95)00249-X.
  4. ^ Bird, M. L.; Challenger, F. (1939). "Formation of organometalloidal and similar compounds by microorganisms. VII. Dimethyl telluride". Journal of the Chemical Society. 1939: 163–168. doi:10.1039/JR9390000163.
  5. ^ Basnayake, R. S. T.; Bius, J. H.; Akpolat, O. M.; Chasteen, T. G. (2001). "Production of dimethyl telluride and elemental tellurium by bacteria amended with tellurite or tellurate". Applied Organometallic Chemistry. 15 (6): 499–510. doi:10.1002/aoc.186.
  6. ^ Chasteen, T. G.; Bentley, R. (2003). "Biomethylation of Selenium and Tellurium: Microorganisms and Plants". Chemical Reviews. 103 (1): 1–26. doi:10.1021/cr010210+. PMID 12517179.

External links

  • Epichem (Commercial supplier datasheet)