Short and efficient preparation of alkynyl selenides, sulfides and tellurides from terminal alkynes

Diphenyl diselenide reacts with terminal alkynes at room temperature in DMSO in the presence of catalytic amounts of copper iodide to give good to excellent yields of alkynyl phenyl selenides. The reaction occurs under neutral conditions and the solvent acts as the oxidant. Diphenyl disulfide and ditelluride undergo the analogous reaction, but require the presence of a weak inorganic base.