A Suspension of lithium amide (0.25 mole) (Note 1) in liquid ammonia is prepared in a 1-l. three-necked flask equipped with a condenser, a ball-sealed mechanical stirrer, and a dropping funnel. In the preparation of this reagent commercial anhydrous liquid ammonia (500 ml.) is introduced from a cylinder through an inlet tube. To the stirred ammonia is added a small piece of clean lithium metal. After the appearance of a blue color a few crystals of ferric nitrate hydrate (about 0.25 g.) are added, followed by small pieces of freshly cut lithium metal (Note 2) until 1.73 g. has been added. After all the lithium has been converted to the amide (Note 3), 17.6 g. (0.2 mole) of ethyl acetate (Note 4) is added, and the gray suspension is stirred for about 30 seconds. To the gray suspension is added 36.4 g. (0.2 mole) of benzophenone (Note 4) dissolved in 100 ml. of anhydrous ether. The mixture is stirred for 30 minutes and is then neutralized by the addition of 13.4 g. (0.25 mole) of ammonium chloride. The liquid ammonia is then removed by use of a steam bath while 200–300 ml. of ether is being added (Note 5). When the ammonia has been removed, 200 ml. of cold water is added. The ether layer is separated, and the aqueous layer is further extracted with two 100-ml. portions of ether. The combined ether extract is dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered, and the solvent is evaporated. The residue is dissolved in 50 ml. of hot 95% ethanol, treated with Norit^®, filtered, and allowed to cool. The yield of ethyl β-hydroxy-β,β-diphenylpropionate, obtained as colorless, needle-like crystals melting at 85–86°, is 40.5–45.5 g. (75–84%). The filtrate, on reduction in volume and cooling, yields small amounts of benzophenone, m.p. 46–47°.