Oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid of the ethylene acetals of aryl α-phenylseleno-or aryl α-phenyltelluro-ethyl kitones prepared by treating the corresponding α-bromo compounds with diphenyl diselenide–sodium or diphenyl ditelluride–sodium, respectively, affords hydroxyethyl 2-arylpropanoates in moderate to good yields via aryl group migration.