“…A modification of this procedure is the use of the free /3-aroylpropionic acid, rather than its salt. This variation has developed into the general method for preparing a-arylidene-y-phenyl-A^-butenolides (70, 71, 104,107-109,134, 300,318). It has been observed that acetophenone, benzophenone, and other ketones fail to react under these conditions (105,202).…”