Acetone → 3-Buten-2-one,4-(4-fluorophenyl)-

To a mixture of 4-fluorobenzaldehyde (5 mL, 45.2 mmol), propan-2-one (9.13 mL, 124 mmol), and water (9.5 mL) was added 12 mL of a 1% solution of NaOH in water. The reaction mixture was heated at 65° C. for 2 h. The mixture was then partitioned between EtOAc and ice water, the organic layer separated and the aqueous layer was extracted twice with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried with MgSO4 and concentrated under vacuum. The product was obtained as a yellow oil and was used in the next step without further purification (7.93 g, 48.3 mmol, 100% yield). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ (ppm) 7.54-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.47 (d, 1H), 7.08 (t, 2H), 6.64 (d, 1H), 2.37 (s, 3H).