Preparation and reactivity of phenyltelluroalkylphosphine oxides. Vinylic tellurides

Phenyltelluromethyldiphenylphosphine oxide was prepared by the reaction of methyldiphenylphosphine oxide with base and PhTeBr. The telluromethylphosphine oxide reacts with aldehydes and ketones to give the corresponding vinylic tellurides, with preferential E stereochemistry for aryl aldehydes and Z for alkyl aldehydes.