(Te-S) bonded compounds of the general formula [R2Te{S2P(OR')2}2| [R = CH3, C6H5, p-MeOC6H4,; R' = CH3, C2H5 CH(CH3)2(CH2)2CH3 and CH2CH(CH3)2] have been synthesized by the reaction of R2TeCl2 with the ammonium salt of O, O'-dialkyldithiophosphoric acid in anhydrous toluene at ambient temperature or by the reaction of R2Te(OR')2 (R'=CH, or C2H5) with corresponding acids. The compounds are monomeric and non-electrolytes in nature. They decompose (TeIV → Te11 → Te°) slowly in solvents such as CH2Cl2, CHC13 or CC14 at ambient temperature. The decomposition products have been characterized. The interaction of [R2Te{S2P(OR')2}2] with phosphine donor bases results in their complete decomposition yielding tellurium metal. The newly synthesized derivatives have been characterized on the basis of analytical and spectral (IR, 1H, 13C, 31P and 125Te NMR) data. A possible geometry around the central tellurium atom has been proposed. © 1991, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.