To a stirred slurry of 0.92 g (23 mmol) NaH, 60% dispersion in mineral oil, in 30 mL anhydrous THF, cooled 0° C. in ice, 5.12 g (21.3 mmol) 3-oxo-3-(4-propyl-cyclohexyl)-propionic acid ethyl ester from Step 2 was added dropwise over the course of 60 min. The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hr. 2-bromoacetophenone (5.57 g, 28 mmol) in 12 mL anhydrous THF was then added dropwise at 0° C. and the reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature over 5 days. The reaction was poured into brine, extracted with ethyl acetate, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated to afford 8.85 g (24.6 mmol, 115% yield) 4-oxo-4-phenyl-2-(4-propyl-cyclohexanecarbonyl)-butyric acid ethyl ester as an oil. The product was used in the next step without further purification.
