Abstract 1??Butyl??3??methylimidazolium chloroaluminate,[bmim] Cl·. AlCl3 (molar fraction, N= 0.67), ionic liquid has been used in combination with metallic Zn for the reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds to synthesize symmetrical olefins, with the Z??isomer formed predominantly. The ionic liquid played a dual role of Lewis acid catalyst and solvent.