Benzene → 2-Pentanone, 4-methyl-4-phenyl-

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Reaction Steps

Mesityl oxide (5.9 g, 60.2 mmol) was added drop-wise to a solution of aluminum chloride (10.3 g, 77.4 mmol) in 100 mL of benzene at 0° C. After stirring and warming up to room temperature for 4 h, the mixture was poured to 100 mL of ice-water mixture, extracted with diethyl ether (3×15 mL), and washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate (1×15 mL) and brine (1×15 mL). After the extract was dried (MgSO4) and concentrated at reduced pressure, high-vacuum distillation of the crude afforded the title compound (7.8 g, 74% yield) as a colorless oil:

Provenance & Evidence