Synthesis of ketene phenyl- and butyltelluroacetals by a Horner–Wittig route

New and efficient methods were developed to prepare ketene organyltelluroacetals in moderate to excellent yields. This was accomplished by reaction of phenyl- or butyltelluromethylphosphonates with phenyl- or butyltellurenyl halides and aldehydes or cyclohexanone, under basic conditions. This Horner–Wittig protocol allows the preparation of several new tri- and tetra-substituted olefins.