54mL (500mmol, 46g) toluene was added over 30 minutes to a solution of 73g (550mmol) anhydrous aluminium chloride and 46mL (525mmol, 49g) propionyl chloride in 200ml dichloroethane cooled via an external ice bath. The solution was allowed to stir for a further 1.5 hours at 20oC, and was then carefully added to 500mL stirred iced water. The lower dichloroethane layer was separated off, and the aqueous layer extracted with 2x50mL dichloroethane. The combined extracts were washed with 2x100mL 5% NaOH, 100ml water, and then dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed, and the ketone vacuum distilled at 123-126oC