Ketones react with primary alcohols in dioxane at 100 degrees C in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd/C and KOH along with 1-decene as a sacrificial hydrogen acceptor to give the corresponding coupled ketones in moderate to good yields. The catalytic pathway seems to be proceeded via a sequence involving initial oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes, cross aldol condensation, and regioselective reduction. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.