Cornforth reagent → 2-Acetyl-8,8-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene

To a stirred solution of 2.44 g (11.96 mmol) of 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-8,8-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene in 35 ml of methylene chloride was added 6.75 g (17.9 mmol) of pyridinium dichromate and 330 mg (1.68 mmol) of pyridinium trifluoroacetate. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h and then diluted with 35 ml of low-boiling petroleum ether. The mixture was filtered through a short column of anhydrous MgSO4 and silica and the filtrate then concentrated in-vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless oil.