A facile method for oxytelluration of olefins

Treatment of olefins with phenyltellurium(I) or (IV) species [(PhTe)2, PhTeCN, PhTeBr3] in alcohol at room to reflux temperature for 1–24 h produces the corresponding (2-alkoxyalkyl)phenyltellurium dihalides in good yields, the reaction being trans-stereoselective and highly regioselective.