sˌʌm lˈɪθiəm mˈɛɾəl ɔːɹ sˈɪmɪlɚɹ ɪz jˈuːzd tə mˌeɪk ðɪ ɐsˈɛɾəlˌiːn ɹɪˈækt wɪððə sˈaɪkloʊhˌɛksɐnˌɑːn ɪnðə fˈɜːst stˈɛp.
Some lithium metal or similar is used to make the acetylene react with the cyclohexanone in the first step.