The title compound TeIILI [L = diethyl dithiocarbamate, (C2H5)2NCS-2] was synthesized by the reduction of TeIVL2I2 with elemental tellurium. Its structure has been determined and is found to be polymeric, with I being the bridging ligand. The polymeric chain adopts a helical configuration which runs parallel to the c-axis of the tetragonal unit cell. Each tellurium is bonded to two sulphurs of a chelating dithiocarbamate group and to two iodines in a planar configuration. The bond distances of TeS(1), TeS(2), TeI and TeI′ are 2.536(4), 2.483(5), 3.108(1) and 3.279(1) Å, respectively, and the bond angles of ITeS(1), S(1)TeS(2), S(2)TeI′ and I′TeI are 149.6(2), 70.7(2), 151.1(2) and 129.2(2)°, respectively. © 1993.