A suspension of 1.50 g (6.14 mmol) of 2-(2',5'-dimethylphenyl)-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione in 15 ml of dry benzene was prepared and 0.49 g (7.37 mmol) of 85% powered potassium hydroxide was added, followed by 1 drop of dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6-ether. After stirring for 30 minutes, 1.20 (7.37 mmol) of 2-ethylhexanoyl chloride was added, and the reaction mixture refluxed for 12 hrs. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, taken up in 150 ml ether and 50 ml of water, washed three times with 0.25N NaOH, two times with water, two times with 6N HCl, and one more with water. The ether solution was dried and stripped to leave 2.10 g (92% yield) of 3-(2-ethylhexanoyloxy)-5,5-dimethyl-2-(2',5'-dimethylphenyl)-2-cyclohexenone as a clear, colorless oil.
