A process to prepare substituted aryl pnictogen derivatives comprising contacting a fluoropolyether or fluoroalkyl primary bromide or iodide, with a pnictogen derivative such as triaryl phosphine, triaryl arsine, or triaryl stibine or triaryl phosphine oxide, triaryl arsine oxide or triaryl stibine oxide, to produce the corresponding fluoropolyether- or fluoroalkyl- substituted aryl phosphine oxide, aryl arsine oxide or aryl stibine oxide; and optionally, contacting the oxide product with a reducing agent to form the corresponding substituted aryl phosphine, arsine or stibine.