In a 1-l. round-bottomed flask provided with a reflux condenser is placed a solution of 1 g. of iodine in 500 cc. of glacial acetic acid. One hundred grams (0.27 mole) of benzopinacol (Note 1) is added, and the flask is heated over a wire gauze, with shaking, until the solution boils gently. It is then refluxed for five minutes during which the solid benzopinacol disappears completely and a clear red solution is obtained (Note 2). The solution is transferred at once to a 1-l. beaker, and, upon cooling, the benzopinacolone separates in fine threads. The product is filtered with suction, washed with two or three 60-cc. portions of cold glacial acetic acid until colorless, and dried. The filtrate is reserved for subsequent preparations. The yield of practically pure benzopinacolone melting at 178–179° is 90–91 g. (95–96 per cent of the theoretical amount). If a purer product is desired the material may be dissolved in 450 cc. of hot benzene, filtered, and treated with 250 cc. of hot ligroin (b.p. 90–100°). After cooling in ice the benzopinacolone is filtered and dried. The purified product weighs 82–83 g. and melts at 179–180°.

To the acetic acid filtrate is added another 100-g. portion of benzopinacol and the reaction is carried out in the same way. The yield of benzopinacolone in the second and subsequent runs is 94–94.5 g. (98–99 per cent of the theoretical amount). This procedure can be repeated in the same filtrate until 500 g. of the pinacol has been rearranged.