Ionic liquids in Barbier-Zaitsev reaction. Synthesis of 1-(perfluorophenyl)-2-phenylethanol in the presence of iron pentacarbonyl

The addition of benzyl bromide to pentafluorobenzaldehyde promoted by metal complex systems underlain by Fe(CO)5 in the presence of a molar amount of ionic liquid led to the formation of 1-(perfluorophenyl)-2-phenylethanol in up to 60% yield.