Whitby group

To a stirring solution of Ph3P⁺CH₃Br^- (7.86 g, 22.0 mmol) in THF (40.0 mL) at 0 °C, ⁿBuLi (8.8 mL, 2.5 M solution in hexanes, 22.0 mmol) stirred for 15 minutes, 1-naphthalen-1-yl-ethanone (10.0 mmol, 1.70 g) was added then stirred for 15 hrs. The product was extracted into diethyl ether (3 x 50 mL), the combined organic layers washed with water (3 x 50 ml), brine (50.0 mL), dried over MgSO₄, filtered and solvent removed under reduced pressure.  The product was recrystallised from diethyl ether and pentane to afford the title product as a white crystalline solid    (8.2 g, 8.2 mmol, 82 %).