Debrominations of vic-dibromides with diaryl tellurides 1-4 and di-n-hexyl telluride (9) are described. A mechanistic explanation of the debromination is offered which accounts for several key experimental observations:(1) the reaction is highly stereoselective with erythro- dibromides giving trans-olefins and threo-dibromides giving cis-olefins,(2) the reaction is accelerated by more electron-rich diorganotellurides,(3) the reaction is accelerated in a ...