11Diphenylethanone

1,1-Diphenylethanone, also known as deoxybenzoin, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C14H12O. It is a ketone where a phenyl group and a benzoyl group are attached to the same carbon atom. Its structure can be represented as Ph2CHCOCH3. Deoxybenzoin is a white crystalline solid at room temperature and is sparingly soluble in water but soluble in organic solvents like ethanol and ether.

This compound can be synthesized through various methods, including the Friedel-Crafts acylation of benzene with phenylacetyl chloride in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Another common method involves the reaction of benzophenone with methylmagnesium bromide followed by oxidation. Deoxybenzoin serves as a building block in organic synthesis. It is used in the preparation of various heterocyclic compounds and has found applications in the pharmaceutical industry as an intermediate for drug synthesis. Its photophysical properties have also been investigated, showing potential in materials science. Deoxybenzoin is sometimes used as a photoinitiator in polymerization processes, particularly in UV-curing applications. The compound's reactivity stems from the presence of the carbonyl group and the adjacent methylene group, which can undergo various condensation and alkylation reactions.