it is quite cross-posting but if acetaldehyde is available, this way is cool too:
Ph-CH2-MgCl + CH3CHO --> Ph-CH2-COH-CH3
Ph-CH2-COH-CH3 + H2SO4(90%)/NaCl --> Ph-CH2-CCl-CH3
Ph-CH2-CCl-CH3 can be extracted very easily (phase separation, toluene should work)
then it is reacted with hexamine (pharmacy store)