Synthesis of β-organotelluro vinylphosphine oxides by hydrotelluration of 1-alkynylphosphine oxides and their palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with alkynes

β-Organotelluro vinylphosphine oxides 2 can be prepared by treatment of 1-alkynylphosphine oxides 1 with tellurolate anions in satisfactory yields. Compound 2d undergoes direct coupling reaction with terminal alkynes in the presence of PdCl2/CuI, triethylamine and methanol at room temperature to give β-alkynyl vinylphosphine oxides 3 with retention of configuration in good yields.