A method for the direct preparation of olefins from ketones and Grignard reagents without isolation of the intermediate alcohol and in the absence of acidic dehydration catalysts. Ketones are reacted with a Grignard reagent in the presence of a low boiling solvent for the Grignard reagent to form a Grignard reaction mixture. An active hydrogen- containing compound is added to the Grignard reaction mixture to form a reaction mixture comprising an alcohol and Grignard salts. The alcohol is dehydrated in the presence of the Grignard salts and a solvent which has a higher boiling point than solvents typically emloyed during the Grignard condensation. The higher boiling solvent can be an active hydrogen-containing compound such as n-octanol and otherwise can be added at any time, including the initial condensation step.
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