The reaction of several di-and triaryl-substituted 3-aryl-3-hydroxy acids and a 4-aryl-3- hydroxy acid in acetic anhydride in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride has been investigated. It has been shown that the reaction discovered with 3-(2′-thienyl)-substituted 3-hydroxy acids, namely, their conversion under the above stated conditions into α, β- unsaturated methyl ketones, 1, 2 occurs also with 3-aryl 3-hydroxy acids but to a smaller ...