p-Methylbenzaldehyde (3.00 g., 0.025 mole) in ethanol (10 ml.) is added to a solution of levo-4-(o-chlorobenzyl)-4-phenyl-5-oxohexanoic acid (4.89 g., 0.015 mole) and sodium hydroxide (0.80 g., 0.20 mole) in water (50 ml.). The resulting mixture is heated on a steam bath for 24 hours. The reaction solution is cooled to room temperature, acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid (10 ml.), and the sticky solid which forms after scratching is collected and air-dried, yield 7.4 g., m.p. 120°-147°C. Recrystallization from methylcyclohexane, followed by recrystallization from n-butyl chloride, yields a white solid with m.p. 166°-168.5°C.
