(CAS NO.: ), which is also known as Ethanone, 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenyl-, could be produced through the following synthetic route.

In a 3-l. round-bottomed flask fitted with a reflux condenser are placed 625 cc. of 95 per cent alcohol, 500 cc. of water, 500 g. (476 cc., 4.7 moles) of pure benzaldehyde, and 50 g. of sodium cyanide (96–98 per cent). The mixture is then heated and kept boiling for one-half hour. In the course of about twenty minutes, crystals begin to separate from the hot solution. At the end of the thirty minutes, the solution is cooled, filtered with suction, and washed with a little water. The yield of dry crude benzoin, which is white or light yellow, is 450–460 g. (90–92 per cent of the theoretical amount). In order to obtain it completely pure, the crude substance is recrystallized from 95 per cent alcohol, 90 g. of crude material being dissolved in about 700 cc. of boiling alcohol; upon cooling, a yield of 83 g. of white, pure benzoin which melts at 129° is obtained.