Results and Discussion:
Benzophenone is known to react with 2-propanol to form benzopinacol in the
presence of sunlight. Thus, one gram of benzophenone was dissolved in a test tube
containing 2-propanol and 100% acetic acid. The test tube was sealed to prevent any
unwanted chemical reactions with the air and then exposed to sunlight on the roof of the
chemistry building for several days. During this time, crystals of the benzopinacol formed
according to the mechanism shown in Scheme 1.[1]