My watch list

Benzilic acid

Hydroxy(diphenyl)acetic acid

Other names

α,α-Diphenyl-α-hydroxyacetic acid, α,α-Diphenylglycolic acid, α-Hydroxydiphenyl acetic acid, 2,2-Diphenyl-2-hydroxyacetic acid, 2-Hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetic acid, Diphenyl glycolic acid, Hydroxydiphenyl acetic acid, BZ

Identifiers

CAS number

76-93-7

SMILES

OC(C(O)=O)(c1ccccc1)c2ccccc2

Properties

Molecular formula

C₁₄H₁₂O₃

Molar mass

228.25 g/mol

Appearance

white solid

Density

1.08 g/cm³

Melting point

150 - 152 °C

Boiling point

180 °C (17.3 hPa)

Solubility in water

2 g/l (20 °C)

Hazards

NFPA 704

R-phrases

R22

S-phrases

S23, S24, S25, S28, S36, S37, S45

Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Benzilic acid is a white crystalline aromatic acid soluble in many primary alcohols. It can be prepared by heating mixture of benzil, alcohol and potassium hydroxide. The other preparation way is through benzaldehyde, which dimerizates to benzil and it is further transformed by benzilic acid rearrangement to benzilic acid. This reaction was also the first example of benzilic acid rearrangement preformed by Liebig in 1838.^[1]