Telluroxide is a type of organotellurium compound with the formula R₂TeO. These compounds are analogous to sulfoxide

Sulfoxide

A sulfoxide is a chemical compound containing a sulfinyl functional group attached to two carbon atoms. Sulfoxides can be considered as oxidized sulfides...

s in some respects. Reflecting the decreased tendency of Te to form multiple bonds, telluroxides exist both the monomer and the polymer

Polymer

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...

, which are favored in solution and the solid state, respectively. They are prepared from the telluroethers by halogenation]] followed by base hydrolysis:

R₂Te + Br₂ → R₂TeBr₂

R₂TeBr₂ + 2 NaOH → R₂TeO + 2 NaBr + H₂O