Into the ice-cooled solution was slowly dropped 12.6 g (73.2 mmol) of 2-methoxy-3,5-octanedione (prepared by the method of Reference Example 6), and the mixture was stirred for 5 minutes.
a solution of 10.0 g (11.5 mmol) of nickel (ii) chloride hexahydrate in 30 ml of methanol was slowly dropped into the ice-cooled mixture.