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Benzoin
Introduction
- “Benzoin” is also used to describe benzoin resin, which does not contain the benzoin described on this page.
Benzoin or 2-Hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone or 2-Hydroxy-1,2-Diphenylethanone or desyl alcohol or bitter almond oil camphor is an organic compound consisting of an ethylene bridge flanked by phenyl groups and with a hydroxyl and a ketone functional group. It comes as off-white crystals, with a light camphor odor. Benzoin is synthesized from benzaldehyde in the benzoin condensation.
Its main uses are:
- photocatalyst in photopolymerization and a photoinitiator
- raw material for benzil by organic oxidation with nitric acid or oxone. In one study,[1] this reaction is carried out with atmospheric oxygen and basic alumina in dichloromethane.
Benzoin is not a constituent of benzoin resin obtained from the benzoin tree (Styrax) or tincture of benzoin. The main component in these natural products is benzoic acid.
References
- ↑ Konstantinos Skobridis, Vassiliki Theodorou, Edwin Weber (2006). “A very simple and chemoselective air oxidation of benzoins to benzils using alumina”. Arkivoc. 06-1798JP: 102–106.