and 3 aromatic rings and between 6 and 18 carbon atoms per molecule suitable specific examples of aromatic solvents include for example benzene toluene or xylene the sodium ethoxide ingredient is preferably dissolved in ethanol to provide a concentration ranging from about 18 to 21 weight percent good yields are obtained in a reasonable time when using a concentration of about 19 5 weight percent upon completion of the cold cycle the reaction mixture is quickly raised to a temperature of 70 u00b0 c to 80 u00b0 c preferably about 75 u00b0 c to complete the condensation and to promote deprotonization this can be accomplished in a short period of time usually in one half hour or less by heating the reaction mixture to reflux the contents of the reactor are then allowed to cool at which time the product resembles a yellowish paste the solids are suitably filtered by centrifuging vacuum filtration or the like and then conventionally washed with ethanol and dried the temperature of this final cooling step is not critical and can vary over a fairly wide temperature range the temperatures of the preceding steps i e the cold cycle and the completion of the condensation are critical the final cooling is conveniently carried out at room temperature which varies from about.