To a solution of 4-(3-[1,3]dioxan-2-ylphenyl)-1,1,1-trifluoro-4-methylpentan-2-one (1 g, 3 mmol) in 4.1 mL of anhydrous DMSO was added the sodium ylide of trimethylsulfoxonium iodide (3.0 mL of a 0.8M solution in DMSO) over 5 minutes. The reaction was stirred 2 hours and quenched with water and ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, and dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the volatiles in vacuo afforded 2-{3-[1,1-dimethyl-2-(2-trifluoromethyloxiranyl)ethyl]phenyl}-[1,3]dioxane as a yellow oil.
