A Practical Synthesis of Dibenzoylmethanes

Abstract Dibenzoylmethanes are easily prepared in two steps starting from acetophenones, phenol and benzoyl chlorides. The phenyl benzoate is obtained by condensation of benzoyl chloride with phenol in a classical way. Stirring of the phenyl benzoate and acetophenone in DMSO with powdered sodium hydroxide during a few minutes gave the dibenzoylmethanes in yields depending on substituents on the phenyl rings.