A method for the manufacture of an α,β-unsaturated ketone, which method comprises oxidizing an alkene having —CH.sub.2— adjacent a carbon-carbon double bond to α,β-unsaturated ketone by passing air or oxygen through a solution of the hydrocarbon containing a catalyst consisting of N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) and cobalt diacetate tetrahydrate at standard temperature and pressure during a period of at least 12 hours.

A method for the manufacture of an α,β-unsaturated ketone, which method comprises oxidizing an alkene having —CH.sub.2— adjacent a carbon-carbon double bond to α,β-unsaturated ketone by passing air or oxygen through a solution of the hydrocarbon containing a catalyst consisting of N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) and cobalt diacetate tetrahydrate at standard temperature and pressure during a period of at least 12 hours.

Disclosed are new polycyclic carbogenic molecules and their methods of synthesis. The new polycyclic carbogenic molecules may be utilized in anti-cancer therapies. In particular, the polycyclic carbogenic molecules may be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions that comprise the small molecules, which compositions may be administered in methods of treating and/or preventing cell proliferative diseases and disorders such as cancer. The new polycyclic carbogenic molecules may be prepared from vinyl- or allyl-substituted cyclohexenone precursors via preparation of a silyl bis-enol ether intermediate.