... A SIMPLE, CONVENIENT SYNTHESIS OF 4,4-DIMETHYL-1,3-CYCLOHEXANEDIONE * Prem Nath Maini and Michael P. Sammes Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Abstract: Methyl propenoate and 3-Hethyl-2- butanone react together in xylene in the presence of sodium methoxide to give a high yield of the title compound. ... Page 4. 7 34 MAIN1 AND SAMMES for 3 h. Methanol was distilled from the hot ...