The reaction of alkyl aryl sulfones 1 with an excess of lithium powder and a catalytic amount of naphthalene (8 mol %) in the presence of a carbonyl compound [(PrCHO)-C-i, PhCHO, Et(2)CO, (CH2)(5)CO] or trimethylchlorosilane (Barbier-type conditions) in THF at temperatures ranging between -78 and 20 degrees C leads, after hydrolysis with water, to the expected coupling products, arising from the corresponding alkyllithium in situ generated, in 30-61% yields.