Synlett 459 (1995): A direct access to ketones from litium carboxylates via the sonochemical Barbier reaction:
R-COOLi + R'-Cl + Li° __> R-CO-R' (in THF, rt, 20 min, ultrasonication)
With lithium acetate and benzylchloride you should get P2P in good yields.
They use 1 eq R-COOLi, 1.5 eq R'-Cl, and 3 eq lithium metal. I know, lithium is a bit expensive, but maybe it's a nice synthesis for substituted P2P's on a small scale.