Process for the preparation of α-alkyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)-benzyl alcohols

A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I)

• comprising:
• (i) reacting a compound of formula (A)
• with R′—Mg-Hal2 (B1) or Mg (B2) and R1C(═O)H (C) in the presence of an ether solvent
• wherein the compound (A) is used in an amount of 2.4 to 20 mole per 1 mole of R′—Mg-Hal2 or Mg and wherein at least 1 mole of the whole amount of compound (A) is added during the reaction and the remaining amount of compound (A) is added either during the reaction or after the completion of the reaction;
• and
• (ii) removing the ether solvent from the reaction mixture
• wherein the variables are defined as follows:
• R1 is C1-C4-Alkyl;
• R′ is C1-C4-Alkyl or C3-C6-Cycloalkyl;
• Hal1 is Cl or Br;
• Hal2 is Cl or Br.