[C6H5NH(CH3)2] 2Te2I10: Secondary I⋯I bonds build up a 3D network

The crystal structure of [C₆H₅NH(CH₃) ₂]₂Te₂I₁₀ consists of the N,N-dimethylanilinium cation and a hitherto unreported tellurium iodide anion Te₂I₁₀ ^2- [crystal data: C₈H ₁₂H₁₂NTel₅, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 9.4787(2) Å, b = 14.2874(3) Å, c = 13.6869(3) Å, β = 95.1918(8)°, V = 1845.96(7) ų, Z = 4]. The Te ₂I₁₀ ^2- dianion is based on two edge-sharing TeI₆ ^2- octahedra, and interestingly, it builds up a three-dimensional Te(IV)-I open framework through extensive interconnecting I⋯I contacts. These I⋯I contacts (3.66-3.80 Å) are significantly shorter than the corresponding sum of van der Waals radii (4.0 Å) and may potentially promote charge carrier migration throughout the Te-I network. This material can also be drop-cast into thin films from a heated DMF solution.