stilbene derivatives with aliphatic carbonyl compounds in the presence of trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSC1) and Mg metal in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature brought about regioselective cross-coupling to give the corresponding phenethyl alcohols in moderate to good yields. These reactions may be initiated through one-electron transfer from Mg metal to the carbon-carbon double bond of stilbene