Phosphorus trichloride → 1-Chloro-1-(p-prenylphenyl)ethane

166 g of 1-(p-prenylphenyl)ethanol was dissolved in a mixture of 870 ml of acetone and 34.5 g of pyridine. While the solution was maintained at 0° C., 60.1 of phosphorus trichloride was added over the course of about 2 hours. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Acetone was distilled off, and n-hexane and cold water were added to the mixture. The n-hexane layer was washed successively with a 1.6% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide and water, dried and concentrated to give 174.6 g of 1-chloro-1-(p-prenylphenyl)ethane.