Dibenzyl ketone

Dibenzyl ketone
Names
IUPAC name
1,3-diphenylpropan-2-one
Identifiers
102-04-5 Yes
ChemSpider 21105887 Yes
EC number 203-000-0
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 7593
Properties
Molecular formula
C15H14O
Molar mass 210.27 g·mol−1
Appearance light yellow solid
Density 1.069 g/cm3
Melting point 32 to 34 °C (90 to 93 °F; 305 to 307 K)
Boiling point 330 °C (626 °F; 603 K)
Hazards
Flash point 149.4 °C (300.9 °F; 422.5 K)
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Dibenzyl ketone, or 1,3-diphenylacetone, is an organic compound composed of two benzyl groups attached to a central carbonyl group. This results in the central carbonyl carbon atom being electrophilic and the two adjacent carbon atoms slightly nucleophilic. For this reason, dibenzyl ketone is frequently used in an aldol condensation reaction with benzil (a dicarbonyl) and base to create tetraphenylcyclopentadienone. Vera Bogdanovskaia is credited with the classification of dibenzyl ketone.

Preparation

Phenylacetone self condenses to form dibenzyl ketone.

One method is where phenylacetic acid is reacted with acetic anhydride and anhydrous potassium acetate and refluxed for two hours at 140−150 °C the mixture is distilled slowly so that the distillate is mostly acetic acid, from 45 minutes into the distillation carbon dioxide is released, the distillation takes 75 minutes, carbon dioxide is still being evolved when distillation is stopped the resultant liquid is a mixture of dibenzyl ketone and minor impurities, note if this mixture is heated above 200−205 °C resinification occurs with a decrease in the yield of the ketone.