You didn't even get a UTFSE from some other beez. Consider yourself lucky.

Fine comb Rhodium's and you'll find a procedure for beta-Asarone to 2,5-DiMeOPropenylbenzene. Now make Ketone with performic or whacker or whatever. DOx is in sight no?

Selenium dioxide.... I don't think you need more clues!!

Granted this procedure is for 2,4,5-PropenylBenzene, but it should work equally well for Propylbenzene...... or did you really mean 2,4,5-PropenylBenzene to 2,5-PropenylBenzene?

Happy reading.  

heh thanks, I certainly deserved the UTFSE.

my plan was to try to oxidize the propylbenzene to the corresponding aldahyde via ozone. (There are a few examples of this used to covert a 3,4-dimethoxypropylbenzene into vanillin )

Thanks for the help