Fluspirilen (1) and Penfluridol (2), two neuroleptic agents, belong to a wide class of pharmaceuticals that contain in their molecules a 4, 4-bis (p-fluorophenyl) butyl group bound to a nitrogen atom of a pyrrolidine, piperidine or piperazine moiety. A key intermediate for the synthesis of compounds 1 and 2, 4, 4-bis (p-fluorophenyl) butylbromide (15), has been prepared starting from commercially available 4, 4′-difluorobenzophenone (7) following ...