Process for the preparation of substituted phenoxyphenyl alcohols

A process for the preparation of the compounds of formula II

• comprising the following step:
• (i) reacting a substituted phenoxy phenyl compound of the formula III
• with a Grignard reagent R′—Mg-Hal3 (IV) and a ketone R1C(═O)CH2Hal1 (V) in the presence of a lanthanoid salt;
• wherein the variables R1, R4, Hal1, Hal2, Hal3 and R′ are defined as follows:
• R1 is selected from C1-C6-alkyl and C3-C8-cycloalkyl;
• R4 is halogen;
• and
• Hal1, Hal2, Hal3 are independently from one another halogen;
• and
• R′ is C1-C4-alkyl or C3-C6-cycloalkyl.