Benzyl Alcohol → 3-Benzyloxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one

To a flask equipped with magnetic stirrer and Dean Stark apparatus was added 1,3-cyclohexanedione (70.0 g, 624 mmol), toluene (500 ml), ptoluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (1.68 g, 8.83 mmol) and benzyl alcohol (65.6 g, 606 mmol). The resulting solution was heated under reflux for 2 hr. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and washed with saturated aqueous sodium carbonate solution (4×50 ml). The organic layer was washed with brine (50 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo, affording a brown oil which crystallised upon standing. The crude crystalline material was triturated in isopropyl ether (100 ml) and stirred at 0° C. for 2 hr. The mixture was filtered and the crystalline material was washed with ice cold isopropyl ether (3×100 ml) followed by cold petroleum ether (100 ml). The resulting solid was dried overnight under reduced pressure to furnish the title compound (85.3 g, 68%). m/z (ES+) 203 (M+H+).