“…1‐(3‐Methoxyphenyl)butan‐2‐one (18 b) : The crude compound was purified by column chromatography (eluent: from 0 to 15 % EtOAc in pet. ether) to give a colourless oil (257 mg, 50 %) which showed: [35] 1 H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ =1.02 (3H, t, J =7.3 Hz, CH 2 C H 3 ), 2.47 (2H, q, J =7.3 Hz, C H 2 CH 3 ), 3.65 (2H, s, ArCH 2 ), 3.80 (3H, s, OCH 3 ), 6.73–6.77 (1H, m, ArCH), 6.77–6.84 (2H, m, 2×ArCH) and 7.24 (1H, t, J =8.0 Hz, ArCH) ppm. 13 C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl 3 ): δ =7.8 (CH 2 C H 3 ), 35.1 ( C H 2 CH 3 ), 49.9 (ArCH 2 ), 55.2 (OCH 3 ), 112.4 (ArCH), 115.0 (ArCH), 121.7 (ArCH), 129.7 (ArCH), 135.9 (Ar C CH 2 ), 159.8 (ArCO) and 208.9 (CH 2 CO) ppm.…”