To a flame-dried 10-mL microwave vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added Burgess reagent (115 mg, 0.483 mmol, 1.5 equiv), and a solution of crude aldol intermediate in PhMe (1.5 mL, 0.25 M). The reaction vessel was sealed with a Teflon-coated silicon microwave and then transferred to an 80 °C preheated oil bath.