A procedure has been proposed for the synthesis of tertiary acetylenic alcohols and diols by treatment of phenylacetylene or 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol with butyllithium and subsequent reaction of lithium phenylacetylide or lithium 4-lithio-2-methyl-3-butyn-2-olate thus obtained with alicyclic, aromatic, and terpene ketones.