P2P SYNTHESIS via P2nP reduction

Just talking about how to make phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) also known as phenylacetone...…...ANOTHER METHOD OF P2P SYNTHESIS.......MAYBE .........Manganese(III)acetate mediated coupling reactions via free radicals. A mixture of Manganese(III)acetate dihydrate (13.4g, 50 mmol), benzene (150ml), acetone (150ml) and glacial acetic acid (250ml) was refluxed under an inert atmosphere (argon, helium or nitrogen) until the dark brown color of manganese(III)acetate changed to the pale pink of manganese(II)acetate (about 90 min). The reaction mixture was partitioned between 400ml ether and 250ml water. The ether layer was separated and washed with 250ml water and with 2x250ml 5% Na2CO3 to remove any remaining acetic acid. The ether was then dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 (or MgSO4), the solvent evaporated and the residue fractionately distilled to recover unreacted benzene, and to give phenyl-2-propanone in 40% yield (1.34g) based on the reacted manganese(III)acetate, which is the limiting reagent in this reaction.