Synthesis of alkynyltellurides mediated by K 3 PO 4 and DMSO

In the present work, a simple method for the synthesis of alkynyltellurides is described by the reactions of terminal alkynes with diorganyl ditellurides in the presence of a catalytic amount of K 3 PO 4 . In both substrates, it was possible to vary the aryl and alkyl groups, obtaining the products of interest in short reaction times and in yields ranging from 30 to 93%. This methodology, different from those already reported in the literature, has the advantage of using a catalytic amount of a weak base and no use of metallic catalysts.