The alkylation of 2-arylcyclohexanones (12b and 6) with alkyl halides or acrylonitrile and 50% aq. sodium hydroxide in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst (18-crown-6) was found to give readily 2-alkyl-2-arylcyclohexanones (14 and 16) in fair to good yields. Furthermore, 2-allyl-2-aryl-5, 5-ethylenedioxycyclohexanone (16a or 16b) was coverted into (±) -mesembrine (1), (±) -dihydromaritidine (4a), and (±) -epidihydromaritidine (5a) or (±) -elwesine (dihydrocrinine) (4b) and (±) - epielwesine (5b), respectively, via 5, 5-ethylenedioxy-2-formylmethyl-2- (3', 4'-dimethoxy- or 3', 4'- methylenedioxyphenyl) cyclohexyl acetate (20a or 20b).