VI The cleavage of fluorenone, 111, with potassium hydroxide by the excellent procedure of Huntress and Seike14 gave 2-phenylbenzoic acid, IV, in 93-96% yields. Reduction of IV with sodium and amyl alcohol afforded the previously known3 stereoisomer of 2- phenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid, V, in 73% yield. The acid chloride VI was prepared and treated with sodiomalonic ester followed by acid hydrolysis without isolation of the ...